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WASHINGTON, D.C.: A new AP-NORC poll shows that most Americans think the ongoing government shutdown is a serious problem — and they blame both major parties for it.

About six in ten say President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility, while 54 percent say the same about Democrats in Congress. Nearly three-quarters believe both sides share at least some blame.

The poll was taken as the shutdown entered its third week, and leaders warned that it could become the longest in U.S. history. Democrats want to extend tax credits that help people afford health insurance, while Republicans say Congress must first pass a funding bill to reopen the government.

The political standoff has become a messaging war, with both sides hoping the public will fault the other. The outcome is especially important for Democrats as they prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.

Trump Bears ‘Great Deal’ of Responsibility
The poll finds that frustration is slightly higher toward the party in power. About half of Americans say Trump bears “a great deal” of responsibility — the highest level measured in the survey — about the same as for congressional Republicans, but more than for Democrats.

Some voters blame both sides. Sophia Cole, a 38-year-old Republican from St. Louis, said that although she supports Trump, both the president and Congress should “come together” to reach a deal.

The effects of the shutdown are spreading nationwide. Flights have been delayed, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are missing paychecks. More than half of U.S. adults call the shutdown a “major issue.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the country is heading toward one of the longest shutdowns in history. The White House has warned that the impact could worsen, even as a judge temporarily blocked planned layoffs of federal workers in California.

Angie Santiago, a 60-year-old Democrat from Miami, said the shutdown is making life harder for struggling Americans. “If people like me are struggling, I can’t imagine what federal workers are going through,” she said.

At the heart of the shutdown is a fight over federal tax credits for Affordable Care Act insurance plans. Democrats want to extend them, while Republicans insist discussions will happen only after the government reopens.

About four in ten Americans support extending the credits, but many say they don’t know enough about the issue. Jason Beck, a Republican insurance agent from Utah, supports extending the credits even though he blames both parties — and Trump — for the shutdown.

Democrats, Republicans Blaming Each Other
“Trump’s blaming the Democrats, and the Democrats are blaming the Republicans,” Beck said. “We’re stuck because there’s no middle ground anymore.”

Only about three in ten Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, and four in ten say the same about the Republican Party. Confidence in Congress remains very low — only 4 percent say they have “a great deal” of confidence in how it operates.

However, Democrats lead slightly on health care: 38 percent of Americans trust them more on the issue, compared with 25 percent who trust Republicans.

The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,289 adults from October 9 to 13, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.