Trump's Business as Usual Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Thu Oct 30 2025 17:06:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Despite a federal government shutdown affecting hundreds of thousands of employees, President Trump continues his regular schedule, drawing contrasts with previous administrations.

As the current government shutdown furloughs approximately 750,000 federal workers, President Trump is maintaining a full schedule, including international trips and fundraising events. Unlike past shutdowns, where presidents reduced their activities to show sympathy, Trump is continuing with business as usual, showcasing a different approach to such disruptions in government operations.

Despite the ongoing government shutdown that has left around 750,000 federal employees furloughed and others working without pay, President Donald Trump is maintaining a busy schedule, appearing to operate as if everything is normal.

This shutdown has implications for various services, particularly affecting programs like SNAP that help millions of Americans purchase food. However, Trump's administration has not scaled back its activities as previous administrations did during shutdowns.

Trump is currently on a six-day trip to Asia, following a swift Middle East visit, and continues to host fundraisers at the White House and his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. In a stark contrast to past shutdown practices, only 32% of the Executive Office staff are furloughed, allowing many functions to continue as usual.

Political analysts suggest Trump's approach may provide him a strategic advantage by maintaining a presidential appearance while deflecting blame for the shutdown onto congressional Democrats. This approach stands in contrast to the presidency's past example, including Trump's first term when he directly took ownership of a previous shutdown.

While Americans are split on who holds responsibility for the ongoing shutdown, with many blaming both Trump and the Democrats, the administration is avoiding public relations strategies from prior years and focusing on portraying a sense of normalcy amidst the federal disruption.