The Trump administration has put up banners across federal websites blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, and in some cases, blatantly campaigning for President Donald Trump. One banner on the US Department of Agriculture’s site says, “The Radical Left Democrats shut down the government,” adding that “President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.”
Other websites display similar messages, with a banner on the Department of the Treasury stating that Democrats have shut down the government “in the name of reckless spending and obstructionism.” The White House website similarly blames Democrats and includes a timer showing how long the shutdown has lasted so far.
On Wednesday morning, the federal government shut down after Congress couldn’t reach an agreement on a funding bill, as Democrats continue facing Republican pushback on their fight to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have largely blamed the freeze on Democrats, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) writing on X that the Democrats “voted” to close the government.
Not all federal agencies display these kinds of messages, as websites for the Department of State, the Department of Education, and the Federal Communications Commission have a banner that simply states that the sites will not be updated due to the government shutdown.
