AP Poll: Majority Blame Trump, GOP for Ongoing Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new AP-NORC poll shows 60% say Trump and GOP in Congress share major responsibility in ongoing shutdown. While most Americans blame both parties for the shutdown, Trump and Republicans face slightly more blame than Democrats in public opinion. Health care subsidies remain the central issue dividing Congress.
Shutdown Blame + Poll Insights: Quick Looks
- 60% say Trump and GOP in Congress share major responsibility.
- 54% say Democrats also hold significant blame for the shutdown.
- 54% of Americans call the shutdown a “major problem.”
- Health care subsidies remain the key point of disagreement.
- Judge temporarily blocks layoffs of federal workers during shutdown.
- Public opinion of both parties remains largely unchanged.
- ACA subsidies gain support, but many Americans are undecided.
- Only 4% of Americans say they trust Congress significantly.
AP Poll: Majority Blame Trump, GOP for Ongoing Shutdown
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — As the government shutdown enters its third week with no deal in sight, a new AP-NORC poll reveals that the American public is divided in blame, with both major parties and President Trump receiving harsh marks from voters.
According to the survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 6 in 10 Americans believe that President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress bear either “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility for the ongoing federal shutdown. Meanwhile, 54% assign the same level of blame to Democrats in Congress.
The numbers reflect a broader frustration with political leaders as the shutdown drags on, paralyzing key parts of government, delaying flights, and forcing federal workers to miss paychecks.
“No one’s hands are clean,” said one independent voter. “Everyone’s playing a game, and we’re the ones paying for it.”
Trump, GOP Bear Slightly More Blame
While frustration spans both parties, the poll shows Trump receives the highest single share of blame, with roughly 50% saying he holds “a great deal” of responsibility. That’s slightly higher than the share who say the same about Republicans in Congress (also around 50%) and significantly more than the 40% who fault Democrats.
Sophia Cole, a Republican mother in Missouri who voted for Trump, said she sees blame on both sides — but ultimately believes the president should broker a resolution.
“He has the power to end this,” she said. “We elected him to lead, not fight.”
Shutdown Impacts Spread Nationwide
As the shutdown lingers, its effects are becoming more visible across the country. From delayed flights to missed paychecks for federal workers, many Americans are feeling the fallout.
- 54% of U.S. adults now say the shutdown is a “major issue.”
- Only 11% say it’s not a problem at all.
Notably, concern is highest among Democrats (69%), followed by independents (59%), and then Republicans (37%).
Angie Santiago, a 60-year-old Democrat from Miami, said she’s seeing the economic strain firsthand.
“I’m calling you from a food line,” she told pollsters. “This is going to get worse for families like mine.”
Health Care Subsidies at the Core
The primary sticking point in negotiations is the extension of tax credits that help Americans afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats insist on extending these credits; Republicans demand reopening the government before discussing the issue.
According to the poll:
- Around 4 in 10 Americans support extending the ACA tax credits.
- Only about 10% oppose the subsidies outright.
- 42% are undecided or don’t have a strong opinion, indicating the issue isn’t fully understood by the public.
Jason Beck, a Republican insurance agent in Utah who relies on the ACA, supports keeping the subsidies.
“The health insurance works for me. I’d rather it not change,” he said — even though he blames both sides for the stalemate.
Legal Drama: Judge Blocks Federal Layoffs
Amid the shutdown chaos, a federal judge in California temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with thousands of planned layoffs of federal employees. The judge cited concerns that the firings appeared to be politically motivated and carried out without due process.
This decision followed reports that the White House was using federal staffing cuts to put pressure on Democrats — a move that has been condemned by unions and legal advocacy groups.
“Our civil servants are not political pawns,” said a union spokesperson.
No Political Gain for Either Side
Despite the finger-pointing, neither party is seeing a boost in popularity from the shutdown standoff.
- About 30% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably, unchanged from September.
- Roughly 40% have a favorable view of the Republican Party, also flat.
- Only 4% say they have “a great deal” of trust in Congress.
- Nearly half of Americans (49%) say they have “hardly any” trust in how Congress is being run.
The polling shows health care could be a long-term asset for Democrats, with 38% of Americans saying they trust Democrats to handle it better, compared to 25% for Republicans. The rest either trust both parties equally or trust neither.
Voters Want Middle Ground
Many respondents expressed frustration over the political deadlock and long for bipartisan compromise.
Rob Redding, an independent voter from New York, said he supports Democrats’ stance on health care and believes holding the line on subsidies is one of the most principled stands he’s seen.
“I think it’s the right call,” Redding said. “But at the same time, we need leaders who can actually govern.”
About the Poll
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,289 adults between October 9–13, using a representative sample from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel. The margin of error is ±3.8 percentage points.
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