Copyright Newsweek
More than 50 percent of voters believe President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are more to blame for the government shutdown that has stretched on for more than a month, according to an NBC News poll released Sunday. Blame is split about evenly between Trump and Republicans in Congress, 24 to 25 percent, respectively. Newsweek has reached out to the Democratic and Republican Senate and House leaders for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters The federal government has been shut down since October 1, and Republicans and Democrats have been in a stalemate, trading blame back-and-forth over who is responsible for the shutdown and seeking to garner support for resolutions to reopen the government. The GOP holds a majority in the House and Senate but requires Democratic support to reach a deal. The shutdown has resulted in many federal employees working without pay or furloughed. Several crucial benefits and services have also been suspended, with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the center of policy debates. SNAP is issued monthly to nearly 42 million Americans, with nearly 75 percent of SNAP households at or below the poverty level. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that these benefits will not be paid until the shutdown ends, which has raised concerns among many constituents and led a coalition of Democratic-led states to sue the government over its failure to use contingency funds for the matter. On Friday, two federal judges ruled the administration must continue to pay the benefit with emergency funds. The delay in payouts is expected to leave millions of people without sufficient funds for their groceries. What To Know As the shutdown continues past the month threshold, many Americans are growing frustrated with politicians, especially as many have real benefits, employment, and money on the line. An NBC News poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted between October 24 and 28, found that 52 percent believe Republicans and the president are more to blame for the government shutdown, while 42 percent say Democrats. The percentage of voters who point fingers at the Democrats is the highest for the party in NBC News polling over the past three decades. The poll also found that over one third of participants, 34 percent, say they or someone in their family has been affected by the shutdown, specifically in terms of employment, services, and benefits. That’s the highest share recorded by NBC News in its polling on government shutdowns dating back to 1995. Across the spectrum, participants seem to be looking for a political shakeup. When asked “if there were a place on your ballot that allowed you to vote to defeat and replace every single member of Congress, including your own representative, would you do this or not,” 57 percent of participants said yes, with 40 percent saying no. The poll has a margin or error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on October 31: "Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do. I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date and, even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out. If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay." Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who helped conduct the survey, said: “Health care, a central focus of the government shutdown debate, is an area where Democrats continue to hold the upper hand.” Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, who helped conducted the survey, said: “Each party could look at this data and say, ‘Let’s not blink.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said earlier this week: "There has to be a preexisting appropriation for the contingency to be used, and Democrats blocked that appropriation when they rejected the clean continuing resolution. The best way for SNAP benefits to be paid on time is for the Democrats to end their shutdown." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, said in an X post on Friday: "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." Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an X post on November 1: "The unthinkable has happened. Through generations of service under administrations from both parties, America's food assistance program has never been allowed to fail U.S. families—until today, and this Trump shutdown." What Happens Next? There has been no headway on the shutdown resolution. Senator Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, recently told Politico that he expects the government shutdown will likely end after Tuesday's elections, estimating it to reopen either Wednesday or Thursday. Early-in person is already underway in a handful of states with gubernatorial, mayoral, and state propositions on the ballots. The Trump administration must report a plan to comply with the judge's ruling by noon on Monday, November 3. If the administration decides to make full payments to SNAP recipients, they must do so by the end of the day on Monday. For partial payments, the deadline is Wednesday, November 5.
