Trump Targets “Democrat Agencies” Amid Capitol Hill Blame Game Over Crisis Response

Trump is wearing a navy suit red and and American flag lapel pin as he speaks into a microphone and gestures with his right hand during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House at the White House in Washington on 30 September 2025″ class=”sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ”/>Shutterstock

US President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House at the White House in Washington on 30 September 2025

President Donald Trump has said he and his budget director will work out which “Democrat Agencies” to cut as the US government shutdown approached its third day.

He suggested Republicans should seize the opportunity to “clear out dead wood” and gave no hint of concessions to Democratic demands that legislation funding the government should include healthcare insurance subsidies.

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, continued to blame each other for failing to keep federal agencies open.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are staying home, while others worked without pay. Some federal attractions closed to visitors while others, including the Statue of Liberty, stayed open.

Watch: “Find common ground”, tourists in Washington tell lawmakers amid shutdown

Analysts don’t expect either side to budge without pressure from everyday Americans, most of whom have yet to feel direct impacts on their lives.

It was unclear exactly what Trump could decide in Thursday’s meeting with Russell Vought, director of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

When Congress fails to keep the US government open, the OMB director works with the president to pick which government activities should stop and which are essential.

It then gives directions to federal agencies about which employees to place on furlough, which means unpaid leave.

On the first day of the shutdown, Vought said the White House had moved to pause or cancel billions of dollars in funding meant for Democratic states, including $18bn (£13.4bn) in infrastructure projects in New York – home of both Senator Chuck Schumer and the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries.

Both sides must come together to pass legislation if the government is to reopen.

Republicans need eight Democratic senators to vote with them, while Democrats need 13 Republicans to side with them. Only three Democrats joined with Republicans on the last failed vote in the Senate on Wednesday.

Lawmakers are expected to try again on Friday afternoon to resolve the impasse with a vote in the Senate.

Republicans want to pass a funding measure without anything else attached, but Democrats want to include a renewal of health insurance subsidies for low-income individuals set to expire at the end of the year.

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Speaker of the US House Mike Johnson delivers remarks during a government shutdown press conference in the US Capitol in Washington on 02 October 2025

In duelling press conferences on Capitol Hill on Thursday, neither party appeared willing to give ground.

House Speaker Mike Johnson called Democrats “selfish”, dubbed it the “Democrat shutdown”, and said he would not negotiate on adding insurance subsidies – or other measures – to government funding.

Jeffries accused Republicans of not wanting to provide working-class Americans with healthcare and said Trump’s threats to fire more federal workers were pointless. He noted: “They have been firing federal employees all along.”

Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist University Institute for Public Opinion, said his polling suggested Americans were largely split down party lines when it came to assigning fault for the shutdown.

Majorities of both Democratic and Republican respondents to his polls blamed the other party for the shutdown, he said, while 41% of independents said both parties shared the blame equally.

“Both of the parties have mastered the finger-pointing, and all we’re left with is a growing number of people think the country is headed in the wrong direction,” Miringoff said.

He expected Americans to put pressure on Congress to reopen the government – but not until they see the impact of a shutdown on their own lives.

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US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York, speaks to reporters during a press conference at the US Capitol Building on 02 October, 2025 in Washington.

As politicians traded barbs, US government services started to grind to a halt and thousands of federal workers stayed home.

About 750,000 federal workers were expected to take unpaid leave, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Federal employees deemed “essential” continued to work, though without pay. They include more than 200,000 law enforcement officers.

Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are considered essential, so air travel will not immediately be affected.

During the last shutdown these employees increasingly began to call in sick, leading to some delays at major airports.

Tourists were turned away from museums in Washington and New York, including at Federal Hall in Manhattan.

A manager told the BBC the building was closed like other federal monuments.

George Washington, the first US president, took the oath of office there in 1789. Now a museum, the historic building also was home to the first Congress and Supreme Court.

But not all monuments are closed.

Elsewhere in New York, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island remained open, “thanks to the leadership of President Donald J Trump”, a Department of the Interior spokesperson told the BBC.

The Smithsonian, which includes more than a dozen museums and attractions that drew nearly 17 million visitors last year, told the BBC it had enough money to stay open for a week.

How might TrumpS repeated attacks on federal agencies impact their ability too effectively respond to future crises, considering the erosion of public trust?

escalating Tensions: A Deep Dive into the Political Fallout

The current crisis – details of which remain fluid but center around [insert specific crisis details hear, e.g., a major infrastructure failure, economic downturn, or national security breach] – has ignited a fierce blame game on Capitol Hill. Former President Donald Trump has seized the opportunity to aggressively target federal agencies perceived as aligned with the Democratic party, accusing them of incompetence and deliberate mismanagement. This strategy mirrors tactics employed during his previous presidency, focusing on discrediting institutions and shifting responsibility.The core of Trump’s argument revolves around the idea that “woke” policies and a lack of experienced leadership within these agencies contributed directly to the severity of the crisis.

Agencies Under Fire: Who is Trump Targeting?

Several key agencies are facing intense scrutiny from Trump and his allies. These include:

* The department of energy (DOE): Accusations center on alleged failures in [specific area related to the crisis, e.g., grid security, energy reserves]. Trump has repeatedly claimed the DOE prioritized green energy initiatives over reliable power sources, leading to vulnerabilities.

* the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): criticism focuses on permitting processes and environmental regulations, with Trump arguing they hindered rapid response efforts and exacerbated the situation. He specifically points to [mention a specific regulation or permitting issue].

* The Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Trump alleges DHS failed to adequately prepare for and respond to the crisis, citing issues with border security and emergency preparedness protocols. Concerns have been raised about the agency’s resource allocation and coordination with state and local authorities.

* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): While less directly implicated in this specific crisis, trump continues to leverage past criticisms of the CDC’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, framing it as evidence of systemic failures within “Democrat agencies.”

These attacks are amplified through Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, and echoed by conservative media outlets, creating a powerful narrative that resonates with his base. The term “Democrat Agencies” is trending on social media, reflecting the widespread dissemination of this message.

Capitol Hill Response: Partisan Divide Deepens

The response on Capitol hill is predictably divided along party lines.

* Republicans: Many Republicans are echoing Trump’s criticisms,calling for investigations into the agencies’ actions and demanding accountability from agency heads. Some are advocating for meaningful budget cuts and restructuring. representative [Name of prominent Republican] stated, “This crisis is a direct result of the Biden management’s disastrous policies and the incompetence of these agencies.”

* democrats: Democrats are vehemently defending the agencies, accusing Trump of engaging in political opportunism and spreading misinformation. They argue that the agencies are adequately funded and staffed, and that the crisis is a complex issue requiring bipartisan solutions. Senator [Name of prominent Democrat] countered, “These attacks are baseless and irresponsible. We need to focus on addressing the crisis, not engaging in partisan finger-pointing.”

The House Oversight Committee, now under Republican control, is expected to launch a series of investigations into the agencies’ handling of the crisis. This is likely to further escalate tensions and deepen the partisan divide.

The Role of Misinformation and Disinformation

A significant challenge in navigating this situation is the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.False claims about the cause of the crisis and the agencies’ response are circulating widely online, fueled by partisan actors. Fact-checking organizations are working to debunk these claims, but the speed and reach of social media make it tough to contain the spread of false information.This is impacting public trust in government institutions and hindering efforts to address the crisis effectively. The term “crisis communication” is becoming increasingly significant as agencies attempt to counter false narratives.

Historical Precedent: Trump’s Past Attacks on Federal Agencies

This isn’t the first time Trump has targeted federal agencies. During his presidency, he frequently clashed with:

* The FBI: Accusations of bias and political interference.

* The Department of Justice (DOJ): Criticism of investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

* the Intelligence Community: Disputes over assessments of foreign threats.

These past attacks established a pattern of behavior, demonstrating Trump’s willingness to undermine institutions he perceives as hostile. This current situation appears to be a continuation of that pattern. Understanding this historical context is crucial for interpreting the current events.

Potential Consequences: Impact on crisis Response and Public Trust

The ongoing political battle has several potential consequences:

* Delayed Crisis Response: Political infighting and investigations could divert resources and attention away from addressing the immediate needs of those affected by the crisis.

* Erosion of Public Trust: Constant attacks on government institutions can erode public trust, making it more difficult to implement effective policies and respond to future crises.

* Increased Polarization: The partisan divide is highly likely