The federal government shutdown has now reached its 30th day, prompting increased concern among the American public. A recent poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos reveals that more people disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the situation. The poll indicates that a significant majority of Americans, approximately 75%, express concern about the shutdown, a rise from two-thirds at the onset.

Currently, 43% of respondents report being "very" concerned about the shutdown, an increase from 25% on October 1. The poll shows that 45% of Americans hold Trump and congressional Republicans responsible for the shutdown, while 33% blame congressional Democrats. The remaining 22% are uncertain about who is to blame. This marks a slight change from earlier polling, where 47% blamed Trump and Republicans, 30% blamed Democrats, and 23% were unsure.

Partisan perspectives reveal that 81% of Democrats believe Trump and Republicans are at fault, compared to 72% of Republicans who blame Democrats. Among independents, 46% attribute responsibility to Trump and Republicans, while only 23% point to Democrats.

Concern about the shutdown spans across party lines, with nearly 90% of Democrats, over 70% of independents, and more than 60% of Republicans expressing worry. However, a greater percentage of Democrats (62%) report being "very" concerned compared to independents (43%) and Republicans (26%). Women show higher levels of concern, with 81% expressing worry compared to 68% of men.

The poll also highlights a growing disapproval of Trump's management of the federal government, with 63% of respondents disapproving, up from 57% in April and 54% in February. Only 36% approve of his performance in this regard.

Participants in the poll provided written responses explaining their views on who is to blame for the shutdown. Those blaming Trump and Republicans cited issues such as healthcare costs and a perceived lack of willingness to negotiate. A 65-year-old Democratic woman from Wisconsin stated, "They won't budge on the concerns of healthcare premiums skyrocketing for all Americans. He is not for all Americans, only his interests matter."

Conversely, those blaming Democrats pointed to their refusal to compromise. A 78-year-old Republican woman from Oregon remarked, "They want healthcare for illegal immigrants to be paid for out of my pocket. Not right."

The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll was conducted online from October 24 to 28, 2025, among a random national sample of 2,725 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points. The sample included 28% Democrats, 31% Republicans, and 41% independents.