Congressional Disapproval Reaches Record High Amid Government Shutdown
Americans' disapproval of Congress has reached a record high of 86%, according to a recent Gallup poll. This level of disapproval ties the previous record and comes as the Department of Homeland Security faces a prolonged shutdown, now in its 10th week. Historically, peaks in congressional disapproval have coincided with government shutdowns or threats thereof, such as the 2013 closure and a near-shutdown in 2015. The current disapproval may also be influenced by Republican frustration over stalled legislation, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, and broader tensions related to the U.S. conflict with Iran. Additionally, ethics scandals involving two members of Congress have contributed to the negative public sentiment. Congress has struggled with low approval ratings since 1974, with the current approval at just 10%, slightly above the all-time low of 9%. 
