A new poll shows more Americans blame Republicans for a potential government shutdown, even as President Trump's approval remains low and Democrats in Congress face weaker public support. The government is set to shut down at midnight on September 30.
Sep 30, 2025
Source:
NPR
Public Frustration Grows as Shutdown Nears
Washington is on the brink of a government shutdown as lawmakers remain deadlocked over a federal funding bill. The government is set to run out of money at midnight on September 30, 2025.
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll highlights widespread public dissatisfaction with all parties involved. While President Trump’s approval rating remains low, Democrats in Congress have even weaker public support, with just one in four Americans approving of their performance.
Despite this, the poll indicates that more of the public is prepared to blame Republicans than Democrats for a potential shutdown, placing significant pressure on the GOP to find a resolution.
Key Political Dynamics
Low Approval Ratings: Both President Trump and congressional Democrats are facing low public approval, signaling broad frustration with Washington.
Blame Game: The GOP faces more public blame for a potential shutdown, complicating their negotiating position.
Midnight Deadline: Federal funding expires tonight, forcing a partial shutdown of government services if no deal is reached. For real-time updates, the White House has established a “Government Shutdown Clock.”
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Source:
VPM News
The Core of the Disagreement
The immediate cause of the stalemate is the Senate's failure to advance a funding bill already passed by the House of Representatives.
The House passed what is known as a “clean continuing resolution (CR),” which would fund the government at current levels through November 21, 2025. This type of stopgap measure is typically used to provide more time for detailed budget negotiations.
Democratic Opposition
Senate Democrats have refused to support the clean CR, demanding that several policy changes be included in any funding package. According to reports, their preconditions reflect pressure from the progressive wing of the party and include:
Resuming welfare payments for illegal aliens.
Reversing tax cuts previously passed by the GOP.
Republicans argue these are “unpopular and unreasonable requests” and accuse Democrats of manufacturing a crisis by blocking a funding bill they would have otherwise supported. At least seven Democratic senators are needed to bypass the filibuster, making bipartisan support essential.
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Source:
NPR
