President Joe Biden and House Republicans held a meeting to discuss the debt ceiling and made some progress as they agreed to shift the negotiations to direct talks between a close ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and two White House aides. While House Minority Leader McCarthy acknowledged that an agreement was not guaranteed, he expressed optimism about the improved process. President Biden, who is attending the G-7 summit, stated that he would continue regular communication with congressional leaders and ensure that staff meetings continue to avoid a default. The inclusion of stricter work requirements for social safety net programs emerged as a potential area of compromise, but it remains a contentious issue for some progressive Democrats.