Budget crisis in the US

Voters blame Republicans for the shutdown

While the parties blame each other for the shutdown, more voters blame Republicans, a Washington Post poll shows. Of the respondents, 47 percent say that Republicans in Congress bear the main responsibility for the shutdown, while 30 percent think it is the Democrats' fault. The rest do not know.

The result is in line with several previous shutdowns, when the ruling party often has to bear the brunt.

A New York Times poll, conducted shortly before the shutdown became a fact, showed the same trend, writes The Hill. The parties do not seem to have gotten closer to each other either.

“Everything indicates that the shutdown will continue into next week and perhaps even longer,” writes the political site.

The budget crisis — the point

• The US government shut down on the night of October 1, 2025 after the Senate failed to reach a budget agreement.
• About 750,000 federal employees were expected to be laid off and several agencies, including the National Bureau of Statistics, suspended operations.
• Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for the shutdown, with disagreements over health insurance and budget priorities being central issues.
• The shutdown was estimated to cost the US economy between $7 billion and $15 billion per week, according to EY Parthenon and the White House.
• Air travel and the publication of important economic reports are affected, and experts warn of disruptions and a lack of information.