---
title: "Government Shutdown: Who’s to Blame?"
description: "In the case of a federal government shutdown, the public splits -- and sharply so along partisan lines -- over whether President Obama or Republicans in Congress are to blame."
date: "2011-03-10"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/03/10/government-shutdown-whos-to-blame/"
---

# Government Shutdown: Who’s to Blame?

Just as with most political issues in the news, when asked who would be to blame if the federal government shutdown as a result of the Obama administration and Congress not passing a budget, the public splits, and mostly so along partisan lines. Overall, if the government shutdown, 35% would blame President Obama, 36% would blame Republicans and 17% would blame both equally. Republicans would overwhelmingly blame the president for a shutdown. Fully 69% say the Obama administration would be to blame for a government work stoppage, while 17% say the GOP would share blame with the president and 8% would blame their own party. Democrats are just as partisan, with 63% blaming congressional Republicans for a hypothetical shutdown, 17% blaming both and 11% laying blame on the president. True to form, independents are split roughly as the nation overall: 37% would blame Obama, 32% would blame the GOP and 17% would blame both equally. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1910/poll-wisconsin-unions-favored-governor-scott-walker-president-obama-gop-leadership-government-shutdown)