Poll: Potential Government Shutdown

This Navigator Research report covers perceptions of a potential government shutdown.

Awareness of a potential government shutdown is relatively low compared to other recent news stories. Just nine percent of Americans say they’ve seen, read, or heard “a lot” or about a possible shutdown, while 40 percent report having heard at least some. This lags well behind other news and events in our August Survey: 66 percent of Americans have heard about Trump and the congressional GOP’s Medicaid budget cuts, including 36 percent who have heard “a lot,” and 61 percent of Americans have heard about Texas redistricting.

Among active news consumers, awareness of a shutdown is noticeably higher. 48 percent have heard “a lot” or “some” about the shutdown, with just 11 percent hearing “a lot.” Passive news consumers are much less likely to have heard news about a potential shutdown, with only 28 percent hearing something, including only five percent who have heard “a lot.”

If the government were to shut down in October, Americans say they would be more likely to blame President Trump and Republicans in Congress than Democrats. 45 percent say they would blame Trump and Republicans, while 26 percent say they would blame Democrats in Congress. Another 21 percent would blame both sides equally. The American public’s perception of who should be blamed for a government shutdown has remained consistent since we began tracking in August, with virtually no movement.

Notably, in a break from what we usually see on highly partisan questions that name Trump and Republicans, 25 percent of Republicans say they would blame both sides equally, including 36 percent of non-MAGA Republicans. Independents are split: 42 percent say they would blame both parties equally, while 35 percent would blame Trump and Republicans in Congress.

For more detailed messaging guidance on the shutdown see our updated shutdown memo here.