A federal government shutdown could be just hours away as partisan gridlock tightens its grip on Washington.
Fox News reported that with Democrats pushing to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and Republicans standing firm against it, a New York Times/Siena poll reveals that 65% of voters think Democrats should back off from forcing a shutdown if their demands aren’t met.
Negotiations hit a wall as key leaders from both sides met at the White House on Monday, with no sign of compromise on a temporary spending plan.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stood toe-to-toe with President Trump and Republican heavyweights like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, yet the deadlock persists.
Democrats are digging in, insisting that any deal must include extending tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, a program millions rely on to afford healthcare plans, set to expire without congressional action.
Republicans, however, argue that this demand would balloon taxpayer costs, particularly for healthcare benefits they claim would extend to unauthorized migrants—a sticking point that’s hard to swallow for many on the right.
The New York Times/Siena poll, conducted among 1,313 registered voters nationwide, shows a mere 27% support Democrats pushing for a shutdown over unmet demands, while a whopping two-thirds say it’s a bridge too far.
Interestingly, within the Democratic Party itself, the split is tight—47% back a shutdown if their conditions aren’t met, while 43% say hold the line without crashing the system.
Independents and Republicans? They’re far less sympathetic, with only 32% of independents and a measly 5% of GOP voters thinking Democrats should play hardball to this extent.
If the government grinds to a halt at midnight on Tuesday, the poll suggests the blame won’t fall on one side alone—voters are ready to point fingers at both Democrats and Republicans, including President Trump himself.
Independents, in particular, are twice as likely to hold Trump and congressional Republicans accountable over Democrats, a tough pill for a president whose approval rating already sits at a shaky 43% against 54% disapproval.
Yet, Trump still commands loyalty from nearly 9 out of 10 GOP voters, a base that might shrug off the criticism even as the shutdown looms large.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, President Trump issued a stark warning: "A lot of federal workers may be fired if the government shuts down." That’s a gut punch to countless families, and it’s hard not to wonder if this brinkmanship is worth the cost.
While Democrats frame this as a fight to save healthcare, one has to question if risking government operations is the right play—especially when most Americans, per the poll, want compromise over chaos.
With no deal in sight after Monday’s White House talks, and both sides doubling down, it’s clear this isn’t just about healthcare credits—it’s a test of who blinks first in a deeply divided capital.
