Democratic leaders in US Congress demand meeting with Trump to avoid government shutdown

Democratic leaders in the US Congress on Saturday demanded that President Donald Trump meet with them ahead of the Sept. 30 government funding deadline to avert a government shutdown.

"We write to demand a meeting in connection with your decision to shut down the federal government because of the Republican desire to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a joint letter.

"Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position," the leaders said, stressing their readiness to work toward a bipartisan spending agreement that "improves the lives of American families and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis."

The letter came a day after the US Senate blocked a House-passed bill to fund the federal government through Nov. 21.