Will Democrats or Republicans blink first as the U.S. hurdles toward a shutdown?

Government Shutdown Standoff - The potential government shutdown is being used by the Trump administration as an excuse to shrink the size of the government and gut agencies [4][5] - The administration's threat of mass firings of federal workers could backfire and give Democrats an upper hand if key federal functions are disrupted [18][19] - Democrats are skeptical of Republican proposals for a short-term continuing resolution, fearing changes to previously passed legislation [12] Political Strategies and Negotiations - President Trump initially believed Democrats would cave, but their low approval rating and voter pressure to fight the administration are significant factors [6][8] - Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated Republican leadership urged President Trump to have a meeting to avoid blame for a potential government shutdown [9] - Democrats are trying to restore healthcare benefits, arguing that the federal government should ensure Americans are taken care of [13] Republican Perspective - House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stated there is a need for rightsizing of the federal government to save billions and tens of billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse [15][16] - The administration has repeatedly rehired workers that were previously fired, raising questions about the seriousness of the threat of mass firings [16]