Democrats Demand Emergency Meeting With Trump Over Federal Shutdown Crisis

By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 05 November 2025 10:39 AM EST

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanding “a bipartisan meeting” to address the government shutdown. The move comes amid growing pressure from Democratic leaders following recent election victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City.

The lawmakers accused Republicans of instigating the shutdown, calling it a “GOP shutdown of the federal government” and a “Republican healthcare crisis.” In their letter, Schumer and Jeffries stated, “Democrats stand ready to meet with you face to face, anytime and anyplace,” a clear rebuke to Trump’s frequent use of the phrase “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The government has been shut down since Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats rejected a clean continuing resolution, leaving approximately 750,000 federal workers furloughed and millions more working without pay. The shutdown entered its 36th day Wednesday, breaking the record for the longest in U.S. history. Economists warn it could cost the economy up to $14 billion and reduce fourth-quarter GDP by as much as 2%.

The letter aims to pressure GOP leaders while leveraging momentum from recent Democratic gains. It also signals Democrats’ intent to link future funding negotiations to healthcare subsidies and social spending. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators is negotiating a proposal to reopen parts of the government in exchange for guarantees on Obamacare subsidies.

Trump urged Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster during a breakfast with GOP lawmakers, calling it essential to breaking “Democrat obstruction.” He criticized Senate Democrats as “kamikaze pilots” and claimed they were harming millions of Americans by prolonging the shutdown. “The radical left in the Senate has shown zero interest in reopening the government,” he said.

Newsmax Wires contributed to this report.
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.