U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday canceled a scheduled meeting with two of the highest-ranking congressional Democrats, a move escalating tensions and increasing the risk of a federal government shutdown. The meeting was intended to break the logjam over a funding agreement that would avert a potential government shutdown at the end of September. Just a day earlier, sources familiar with the matter had indicated that the meeting between Trump, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was still on. However, Trump decided to call off the planned Thursday sit-down. < h2 > Background to the Dispute < /h2 > The dispute centers on Democrats' demand to include protections for healthcare programs in any temporary funding agreement. This includes extending enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which help individuals purchase health insurance plans on "Obamacare". These credits are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. < h3 > Political Reactions < /h3 > In a post on social media, Trump accused Democrats of making "frivolous and ridiculous" demands. Jeffries quickly responded via Twitter, saying, "Trump always caves." He added that "extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is destroying America." Schumer also criticized Trump's decision, stating, "Trump is running away even before he gets to the negotiating table." He added, "At a time when Americans are facing rising costs and a Republican healthcare crisis, Trump would rather throw a temper tantrum than do his job." < h4 > Potential Risks < /h4 > A government shutdown would disrupt non-essential federal services, impact hundreds of thousands of federal employees, and could negatively affect the economy. While past government shutdowns have not traditionally led to long-term economic crises, they create uncertainty and damage consumer confidence. < h5 > Where Things Stand < /h5 > The future of the situation is uncertain. Congress and the President must reach an agreement to fund the government by September 30th to avoid a shutdown. However, with the cancellation of the meeting and rising tensions, reaching a resolution is becoming increasingly difficult. It remains to be seen whether the two sides will be able to find common ground in time.