The ongoing government shutdown has surpassed previous records as it enters its second month, and a fresh national poll has shed light on whom Americans largely blame for the situation.
Amid rising frustration, the blame game involving President Donald Trump, congressional Republicans, and Democrats has intensified.
The partial shutdown of the federal government, effective since October 1, has resulted in thousands of workers not receiving their salaries and millions of Americans dealing with halted benefits.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which aids about 42 million people with food assistance, has become a focal point in the conflict, with states filing lawsuits against the government for delayed disbursements.
Recently, two judges have directed the administration to continue payments using emergency funds, but there is still a lot of uncertainty.
“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” Trump expressed on Truth Social last week, stating he had requested that government attorneys explore legal funding avenues for the program.
In contrast, Democrats argue that the Republicans are essential to resolving the impasse.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tweeted: “Democrats are fighting to protect SNAP and save healthcare. It’s time for House Republicans to end their five-week vacation and reopen the government. Enough.”
Health care has emerged as a critical issue in the deadlock, with Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt from Hart Research Associates noting, “Health care, a central focus of the government shutdown debate, is an area where Democrats continue to hold the upper hand.”
Currently, a significant number of Americans polled express unfavorable opinions about both the Republicans and Democrats, with an astonishing 57 percent indicating they would vote out every single member of Congress if they could—this marks the highest level of anti-incumbent sentiment NBC has observed in over ten years.
In spite of Democrats facing more criticism compared to previous shutdowns in the last 30 years, a majority of voters—52 percent—attribute the stalemate to Trump and congressional Republicans, while roughly 42 percent blame Democrats, and a mere four percent hold everyone equally accountable.
A significant insight from the findings is that over 34 percent of Americans report they or a family member have been directly impacted by the shutdown.
To contextualize this unprecedented government shutdown, during 2018 and 2019, in Trump’s first term, the federal government underwent its longest shutdown on record, lasting about five weeks and causing operations in multiple agencies to come to a complete standstill.
With bare cupboards, unpaid wages, and dwindling patience, it is evident that while debates rage in Washington, ordinary Americans are bearing the brunt of the situation.