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Nearly a month into a government shutdown, President Donald Trump has kept a full public schedule—overseas trips, fundraisers, even burger lunches at the White House—while far fewer Executive Office staff are furloughed than during 2018–19. With some 750,000 federal workers sidelined or unpaid and SNAP funding lapsing after Friday, the White House projects business as usual, a posture allies call “smarter,” while others say his attention is elsewhere. The administration blames Democrats; a poll finds blame spread across both parties. Trump says the government must reopen but has cut positions and redirected funds toward priorities like military pay.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.