Congress’ Job Rating Falls to 15% as Shutdown Drags On

Americans Lose Confidence in Lawmakers

As the partial federal government shutdown enters its third week, public approval of Congress has dropped to 15%, according to Gallup — an 11-point decline from the previous month. Nearly four in five Americans (79%) now disapprove of how Congress is handling its job, a level of frustration not seen since last year. The downturn reflects growing public impatience with Washington gridlock as lawmakers remain locked in a standoff over a continuing spending bill.

Republican Support for Congress Collapses

The sharpest decline comes from Republicans themselves. Approval among GOP respondents has fallen by 21 points, while independents’ approval slipped by nine. Democrats’ support, already low at 7% last month, edged down further to just 5%. The findings suggest that even within the party controlling Congress and the presidency, frustration is mounting over the ongoing shutdown.

Trump’s Approval Holds Steady

While congressional approval erodes, President Donald Trump’s job rating remains steady at 41%, with 91% of Republicans, 33% of independents, and 6% of Democrats approving of his performance. Analysts note that Trump’s approval stability may stem from offsetting events — a government shutdown on one hand and a brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict on the other.

Historical Context and Outlook

Trump’s third-quarter average approval of 40.3% ranks below most post-World War II presidents at the same point in their terms. As the shutdown continues and partisan divisions deepen, public faith in government institutions appears to be waning further, leaving both Congress and the White House under intense scrutiny.