Congressional leaders are trying to de-escalate a standoff over the Sept. 30 government funding deadline, with both Republicans and Democrats signaling they’d be open to a 45-day or possibly longer “clean” continuing resolution that would not include substantial funding cuts.

Democrats are trying to keep the path open to a partisan deal to avoid a government shutdown by saying privately they are not going to draw a red line against President Trump’s $5 billion pocket rescission in the spending talks, preferring instead to let the courts handle Trump’s attempt to sidestep Congress by rescinding funding unilaterally.

If the matter were left entirely to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), the so-called four corners would likely reach a deal quickly on a clean short-term funding deal, lawmakers in both parties say.

But Trump will have “a seat at the table,” and he represents a wild card in the talks.

Some Republican senators say it’s possible that Trump or Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought could derail the talks with a demand that Democrats find unacceptable.

In contrast to six months ago, when some Senate Democrats including Schumer reluctantly voted for a House-GOP-drafted funding bill to avoid a shutdown, Democrats are now warning loudly that they will vote against any partisan continuing resolution (CR) the House sends them shortly before the Sept. 30 deadline.

“Schumer has come around to the viewpoint of telling Republicans that partisan CRs are dead on arrival,” said one Democratic senator, who requested anonymity to comment on internal Democratic caucus strategy.

In March, Schumer didn’t want........

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