In Their Own Words: The Primary Cause of the Shutdown

Publication Date: 10/16/2025 10:00 AM CST

In Their Own Words: The Primary Cause of the Shutdown

Publication: 10/16/2025 10:00 AM CST

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Toplines are free for use after embargo, if any. Crosstabs are confidential and not for public release. However, you may cite specific demographic data from these reports.
For any data released, please cite Napolitan News Service.

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Napolitan Institute asked 1,000 voters what they thought was the primary cause of the partial federal government shutdown.
- One quarter (25%) were not aware there was a partial shutdown.
- We received 777 statements that covered 4 main topics: Blame (407 statements), Issues (254 statements), General (101 statements), and Other (116 statements).
- These topics were broken down into subtopics. The top 5 most discussed subtopics were:
  - Democrats (152 statements)
  - Budget/Funding (138 statements)
  - Both Parties (124 statements)
  - Healthcare (117 statements)
  - Government Dysfunction (101 statements)
- Data for this question is categorized and summarized using Jigsaw's open-source Sensemaker tool, built on Gemini (Google's most advanced AI) so that voters can answer the question in their own words.
Some voters placed blame on the Democrats (152 statements).
- They attributed the problem to Democrats' obstructionism.
- Some say Democrats are at fault due to their refusal to agree with their general opposition to the president's agenda.
- A few comments claimed the Democrat party is motivated by hate.
Other voters placed blame on the Republicans (88 statements).
- These voters claimed that Republican policies, such as cutting social benefits, are designed to provide tax breaks and financial advantages for the wealthy at the expense of other Americans.
- Some faulted Republicans and President Trump for their policy goals, asserting that they are attempting to cut, underfund, or eliminate healthcare programs like the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Some voters directly attributed the reason for the shutdown to President Trump (55 statements).
- Many described him negatively as wanting his own way, being ignorant, or acting out of ego.
Voters also made general statements about government dysfunction (101 statements).
- These statements often pointed to legislative inaction and failure to cooperate or compromise.
- They described politicians as being motivated by self-interest rather than public service.
These statements pointed to a broader partisan conflict and a mutual unwillingness to compromise on the budget and healthcare.
- They said a reason for the shutdown was partisan failure to agree on a federal budget, leading to disputes over funding for key policy areas.
- The conversation also highlighted conflicts over healthcare programs like the Affordable Care Act, as well as spending on border security and benefits for immigrants.
- Some statements contrasted the provision of healthcare benefits to immigrants with the difficulties of American citizens receiving those benefits.

Just 26% of voters have been following recent news stories about the federal budget Very Closely.
- A small number (8%) have not followed the stories closely at all.
- More men (30%) than women (22%) have been following the story Very Closely.

* Note that our sample of government employees also includes state and local employees.

The most recent data cited is from a Napolitan News Service survey of 1,000 Registered Voters conducted online by Scott Rasmussen, October 13-14, 2025. Field work for the survey was conducted by RMG Research, Inc. and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1.