Survey Shows Americans Blame Both Parties for Government Shutdown
According to a recent Economist/YouGov survey, many Americans attribute responsibility for the ongoing government shutdown to both political parties.
More than a month into the shutdown, Senate Democrats have managed to defund the government without securing any significant concessions in return. This decision follows weeks in which Democrats repeatedly turned down Republicans’ straightforward continuing resolutions, opting instead to keep the government closed. House Speaker Johnson (R-Louisiana) pointed out that Democrats have been misleading the public about the situation while placing the blame on Republicans.
Johnson stated last week, “The Democrats’ claim, which is simply not true, is that Republicans are responsible for the shutdown. This narrative has been pushed in interviews and public discourse, which is frankly absurd.” He emphasized that it has been Republican lawmakers who have voted to maintain government functions, particularly those crucial to national security and federal employees.
He continued, “Republicans also voted to continue vital programs like the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program and SNAP benefits for needy families. Conversely, Democrats have opposed this every time.”
Despite Johnson’s attempts to clarify the situation, criticism of the shutdown remains prevalent. The survey asked participants, “Who is most responsible for the federal government shutdown?”
In response, 35% of respondents attributed the shutdown to Republicans, 32% to Democrats, and 27% blamed both parties equally. The remaining 6% were unsure.
When considering registered voters specifically, the numbers were fairly similar, with 38% blaming Republicans, 36% Democrats, and 23% attributing fault to both parties. Party affiliation influenced opinions, as 70% of Democrats blamed Congressional Republicans, while only 5% pointed a finger at their party. Conversely, 71% of Republicans blamed Democrats, with just 5% blaming their own party.
Among independents, 40% held both parties equally responsible, followed by 30% pointing to Republicans and 21% to Democrats.
The survey, which included 1,656 participants, was conducted from October 31 to November 3, 2025, with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent.
Additionally, Johnson remarked that Democrats’ demands to reopen the government are excessive, proposing $1.5 trillion in new partisan spending, which includes significant taxpayer funding aimed at “restoring free health care benefits to illegal immigrants” and initiatives perceived as “wasteful spending” in foreign countries.
He further reiterated that the ongoing disputes are not centered around healthcare, despite claims from Democrats. “Let me clarify this false narrative: Democrats developed Obamacare without any Republican support, and they are responsible for escalating costs for taxpayers and those with health insurance,” Johnson stated.
Reports have indicated that over the weekend, eight Senate Democrats joined 52 Republicans to back a procedural vote aimed at authorizing a continuing resolution to fund government operations.
