Republicans, Democrats to blame for U.S. government shutdown

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of either CGTN or Robert Morris University.

The U.S. Senate failed to pass a temporary appropriation bill on the evening of September 30, which means that the federal government has "shut down" from October 1, 2025. This will be the first "shutdown" of the federal government in nearly seven years.

Ultimately, the American people will decide which political party is at fault for yet another government closure. The grim reality is that yet again, politicians have made a decision that will damage Americans, some more than others, and some more significantly than others. Such choices do not square with being legitimate and honorable representatives of the people.

The longest shutdown, which started in late 2018 and ended in early 2019, lasted 35 days, and it happened during Donald Trump's first presidency. The Congressional Budget Office concluded that the shutdown cost the U.S. $3 billion in lost GDP and resulted in approximately 300,000 federal employees being furloughed. Projecting the 2025 shutdown is a challenge because President Trump has indicated he will use it as justification to fire thousands of workers as part of his effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce.  

For now, let's leave unanswered the obvious question: Would such a decision pass legal scrutiny? Meanwhile, at least one economist has estimated that the 2025 shutdown would cost the U.S. $7 billion each week.

Because there was no agreed-upon new federal budget, a continuing resolution (CR) was required to keep the government open as the calendar flipped from September to October. The Republicans simplified their argument, demanding a so-called clean CR, meaning there would be no conditions attached to it.  

Democrats balked, focusing heavily on one item: health care subsidies. They said such subsidies for millions of Americans could be cancelled at the end of the year, which would immediately lead to higher insurance premiums.  

Neither side budged, although it should be noted that Republicans are willing to discuss the subsidies issues, but not if it is tied to the CR. In other words, a reasonable conclusion to be drawn is that political gamesmanship trumped what is best for the American people.

Of course, the public is not likely to be fooled by such shenanigans: U.S. citizens want government to work for the public, not for special interests. And they do not want rhetorical flourishes that do not stand up to scrutiny.

It does not appear that politicians are listening. As one news magazine correctly stated, "Put simply: the parties are speaking different languages and no one brought interpreters. The past is not predictive on this one." Left unstated is that Republicans remain in lockstep with the president, while no Democrat in Washington carries the gravitas that comes close to Trump.

A government shutdown does not mean that every federal agency will close. Employees deemed essential to the country's safety – such as officers for the Central Intelligence Agency, for example – will be required to remain at work even though they will not receive pay during the shutdown. But other departments, such as Education and Health and Human Services, are just two examples, are likely to furlough a majority of their staff.

Often unstated in potential or actual shutdowns is that the public, already fed up with both major political parties, understands that leading politicians seem more interested in arguing with each other rather than doing what is best for the American people.  

The Pew Research Center has been tracking public trust in government for more than 60 years. In the late 1950s, more than 70 percent of the U.S. public had a favorable impression of the government. By the mid-1970s, that number cratered to just 36 percent. Except for an understandable boost shortly after the 2001 terror attacks, support has never passed 50 percent. Just last year, only 22 percent of Americans reported trusting the government.  

Needless to say, Americans are not likely to conclude that this, or any, shutdown has anything to do with sustaining America's real or presumed greatness. Instead, they will need to determine whether to focus their ire on Republicans or Democrats when they go to the polls in 2026.

By then, the shutdown will be over. However, doubts about whether any responsible government would undermine the country's health and the well-being of its people on average every 4.5 years will remain.

Americans are pessimistic about the future of their country. Fewer and fewer Americans in their 20s and 30s are buying homes, uncertain about their short-term economic prospects. Teenagers report a growing disinterest in school. The American Dream seems just that – a dream, but it might never come true. 

The political class ought to be focused on the many tomorrows to come. Shutting down the government is not a good way to do that.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)