Moreover, 750,000 federal employees face furloughs as administration maintains normal schedule including Asia trip, fundraisers, and White House events.
The Trump government shutdown has now reached 29 days, furloughing approximately 750,000 federal employees and forcing others to work without pay. Currently, this government shutdown continues with no resolution in sight as President Trump maintains his regular schedule. Furthermore, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funding lapses after Friday, affecting millions of Americans.
Nevertheless, President Trump maintains a mostly business-as-usual schedule despite the ongoing shutdown. Specifically, he embarked on a six-day Asia swing following a recent Middle East visit, hosted White House fundraisers for major donors to his $300 million ballroom construction project where crews tear down the East Wing, and held another fundraiser at his Florida estate.
Cabinet Officials Travel Despite Shutdown
Similarly, Cabinet members continue extensive travel schedules during the government shutdown. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Israel, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went to Oregon, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured TOPGUN, the U.S. Navy’s elite fighter weapons school in Nevada.
According to a White House budget office contingency report, the administration will furlough only 32% of Executive Office of the President staff during the current shutdown. This represents a significant decrease from 61% during the last shutdown in 2018-19 during Trump’s first term.
Additionally, about half of the Executive Mansion’s team—including housekeepers, ushers, valets and butlers—currently work. During the previous shutdown, the administration furloughed more than 70%.
Departure from First-Term Approach
This approach contrasts sharply with Trump’s first-term shutdown response. Previously, Trump cut out golf and canceled a planned Florida Christmas trip during the 2018 shutdown that stretched into the new year. He made a surprise visit to troops in Iraq but nixed plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Swiss alps.
During that shutdown, when hosting Clemson University football players celebrating their NCAA championship, Trump brought in burgers and fries from McDonald’s and Domino’s pizza because staff furloughs affected White House operations.
This time, the president hosted Republican senators for a lunch featuring burgers that White House staff prepared. “They do great food at the White House,” Trump said.
At a recent event, Trump commented on staffing levels: “I don’t even know if they’re supposed to be working, but they wouldn’t miss a day.”
Strategic Advantages of Normalcy
Some observers suggest maintaining normal operations provides political advantages, allowing Trump to appear presidential while avoiding congressional bickering.
Marc Short, chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence, called it “a much smarter approach.” During Trump’s first-term shutdown, he rejected a congressional compromise and forced the government to close—attempting to win funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall. Then, he named Pence as lead negotiator, creating visuals of administration officials going to Capitol Hill.
“The first go-around, he was pretty clear with cameras rolling: He said he wanted the shutdown. He claimed ownership,” Short said. This time, “The White House has been clear about not owning it.”
Historical Shutdown Comparisons
During the 16-day government shutdown of 2013, President Barack Obama scrapped a four-country Asia trip and skipped the Congressional Hispanic Caucus gala. His schedule featured events that showed the shutdown’s effects, including visiting a Maryland construction firm that benefited from federal loans the shutdown jeopardized.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton faced shutdowns between 1995 and 1996. When Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich came to the White House to negotiate, Clinton refused to budge despite some advisers urging compromise. Voters ultimately blamed congressional Republicans more than the White House for closing the government, and Clinton won easy reelection in 1996.
Current Political Landscape
Leon Panetta, who worked to end past government closures as Clinton’s chief of staff, suggested Trump could probably find a way to end the current shutdown if he prioritized it. However, Trump’s “attention is focused on everything but sitting down and getting both parties together to resolve this issue,” Panetta said.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated: “President Trump is continuing to work night and day on behalf of American people. The entire administration, including the president, will continue highlighting the workers and families who are suffering because of the Democrats’ decision to shut down the government.”
Blame and Negotiations
Democrats demand an extension of expiring tax credits that have helped millions of people afford health insurance. Meanwhile, Republicans say they won’t negotiate until Congress reopens the government.
Trump says the shutdown must end but also uses it to cut federal positions and target programs Democrats favor while redirecting funds to his own priorities—like covering military paychecks. The president has even said of closed museums, “We should probably just open them.”
Public Opinion Divides Americans
Americans remain divided on responsibility. Roughly 6 in 10 say Trump and congressional Republicans bear “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility for the shutdown, while 54% say the same about Democrats in Congress, according to a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll.
Mike McCurry, a White House press secretary under Clinton, said Democrats have yet to settle on a clear shutdown message that resonates. Trump has the presidency to deliver his take, but McCurry noted he remains “mercurial.”
“Voters will not likely see clear winners or losers after this,” McCurry said. “It’s going to be a bit of a muddle.”
Bill Daley, a White House chief of staff to Obama prior to the 2013 shutdown, said Trump doesn’t act like he feels political heat to reopen the government, even before next Tuesday’s gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey—both home to sizable federal workforces.
“My guess is, he thinks it helps him,” Daley said, “until — and I don’t know if it will — the bottom falls out.”
As the Trump government shutdown continues into its fourth week, the administration shows no signs of changing strategy. Trump maintains his travel schedule, Cabinet members tour the country, and the White House projects normalcy despite hundreds of thousands of federal workers going without paychecks.