Congress Approval Ratings Plummet Amid Extended Shutdown
There’s a clear reason why Congress has consistently held a low approval rating across the board for years. The ongoing government shutdown, which has now surpassed 40 days, perfectly exemplifies this situation.
With the Senate finally reaching an agreement to bring the shutdown to an end, it’s evident that neither political side has emerged victorious. In fact, the biggest losers in this scenario are the American people, who are forced to bear the brunt of Congress’ incompetence.
Despite their efforts, the Democrats came out empty-handed. Eight senators bent to pressure and decided to align with Republicans to eventually vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. However, they ended up with only a vague promise to hold a vote, leaving their base furious. Some progressives are even calling for a change in leadership for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, frustrated by their party’s inability to stand firm against the Trump administration.
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 10, 2025
The average monthly SNAP benefit is $177 a person. The average ACA benefit is up to $550 a person/mo. People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives. Working people want leaders whose word means something.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 10, 2025
What about Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and the Republicans? After sidelining lawmakers for weeks during the shutdown, they too found themselves with little to show for it. Johnson faced criticism, including from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who labeled his inaction an “embarrassment.” Remarkably, they lost valuable ground in their pursuit of trimming federal bureaucracy. As noted by a political analyst, the shutdown significantly backfired for the GOP.
The agreement to reopen the government, which had been available to them since the shutdown began, includes reversing layoffs initiated by the Trump administration. Around 4,000 federal workers, who were dismissed as part of budget cuts, will now get their jobs back with back pay. Even more concerning, any further layoffs are now prohibited in the new budget resolution, which may set a troubling precedent for future negotiations.
On Oct. 16, John Thune offered Democrats a deal where he guaranteed a vote on ACA subsidies by December in exchange for reopening the government. Democrats rejected it. On November 9 — 24 days later — they took the EXACT same deal. This shutdown could have ended weeks ago.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) November 10, 2025
Both parties ultimately yielded on crucial issues important to their bases—healthcare for Democrats and reducing bureaucracy for Republicans. And what did the general public receive in exchange for this political standoff?
As a busy travel season approaches, airlines and travelers are facing disruptions due to furloughed air traffic controllers, with thousands of flights already canceled. The ongoing chaos could linger until Thanksgiving if the shutdown isn’t resolved soon.
Additionally, around one million federal workers are going unpaid, which reduces consumer spending and negatively impacts the economy. There are delays in mortgages and small business loans, further adding to economic strain. Some estimates place the cost of the shutdown at between $7 billion and $16 billion weekly. Also, many Americans are waiting for their SNAP benefits, putting their access to food at risk.
While political leaders were engaging in a high-stakes game, the everyday American was left to suffer. Ultimately, no one came out on top, and public sentiment is one of frustration and division. Congress failed to act productively once again. It’s no mystery why their approval rating remains dismal at just 15%. Instead of improvement, they exacerbated the situation.
