🔗 Share this article

Government closures have become a recurring element of US politics – however this one feels particularly intractable because of shifting political forces along with bad blood among the two parties.

Some government services are temporarily suspended, and about 750,000 people are expected to be put on furlough without pay as both political parties can't agree on a spending bill.

Votes aimed at ending the deadlock continue to fall short, and it is hard to see an off-ramp this time because each side – including the nation's leader – can see some merit in maintaining their positions.

Here are the four ways that make things feel different in 2025.

1. For Democrats, the focus is on Trump – not just healthcare

Democratic supporters has been demanding for months for their representatives more forcefully fights the current presidency. Well now the party leadership have an opportunity to demonstrate their responsiveness.

In March, the Senate's top Democrat was fiercely criticised after supporting a Republican spending bill thus preventing a government closure early this year. This time he's holding firm.

This is a chance for Democrats to show their ability to reclaim some control from a presidency that has moved aggressively with determined action.

Opposing the Republican spending plan comes with political risk as citizens generally will grow frustrated as the dispute drags on and consequences begin to mount.

The Democrats are using the shutdown fight to put a spotlight on ending healthcare financial support and Republican-approved federal health program reductions affecting low-income populations, both facing public opposition.

Additionally, they're attempting to restrict the President's use of his executive powers to cancel or delay funding approved by Congress, which he has done in international assistance and other programmes.

Second, For Republicans, they see potential

The President and one of his key officials have openly indicated their perspective that they perceive an opening to make more of reductions to the federal workforce implemented during in the Republican's second presidency to date.

The President himself stated recently that the shutdown had afforded him an "unprecedented opportunity", adding he intended to cut "opposition-supported departments".

The White House stated they would face the "unenviable task" involving significant workforce reductions to keep essential government services operating should the impasse persist. The Press Secretary described this as "fiscal sanity".

The scope of the potential lay-offs is still uncertain, but the White House has been in discussions with federal budget authorities, or OMB, which is headed by the key official.

The budget director has already announced the suspension of federal funding for Democratic-run parts of the country, such as NYC and Chicago.

3. There's little trust on either side

Whereas past government closures typically involved late-night talks among political opponents aimed at restoring federal operations, there appears to be minimal cooperative willingness for compromise presently.

Conversely, there is rancour. The bad blood persisted recently, with Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for causing the impasse.

The legislative leader a Republican, accused Democrats of not being serious toward resolution, and maintaining positions during discussions "for electoral protection".

Meanwhile, the Senate leader made similar charges against their counterparts, saying that a majority party commitment regarding health funding talks once the government reopens can not be taken seriously.

The President himself has inflamed the situation by posting a computer-created controversial depiction of the Senate leader and the top Democrat opposition figure, where the representative is depicted with a large Mexican-style sombrero and facial hair.

The representative with party colleagues called this racist, a characterization rejected by the administration's second-in-command.

Fourth, The American Economy faces vulnerability

Analysts expect approximately two-fifths of government employees – more than 800,000 people – to face furlough as a result of the shutdown.

This will reduce consumer expenditure – and also have wider ramifications, as environmental permitting, patent approvals, payments to contractors along with various forms of federal operations connected to commercial interests comes to a halt.

A shutdown also injects new uncertainty within economic systems already being roiled from multiple factors including trade measures, earlier cuts to government spending, immigration raids and artificial intelligence.

Economic forecasters project potential reduction of approximately 0.2% from national economic expansion for each week it lasts.

But the economy typically recoups the majority of interrupted operations following resolution, similar to recovery patterns caused by a natural disaster.

That could be one reason why the stock market has appeared largely unfazed by the current stand-off.

On the other hand, experts indicate should administration officials implement proposed significant workforce reductions, the damage could be extended in duration.