The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history has concluded with significant economic consequences, including an estimated $11 billion in irreversible losses. Lasting six weeks, the closure disrupted federal operations, delayed critical data reporting, and strained public services, leaving lasting effects despite the resumption of government functions.
Approximately 1.25 million federal employees went unpaid from October 1 onward, with around 650,000 workers furloughed. This pause in wages—totaling about $16 billion in deferred income—led to reduced consumer spending on retail, dining, and travel. Although back pay was eventually approved, many delayed purchases were never recovered, contributing to the permanent economic drag.
The shutdown also severely impacted air travel. Overworked air traffic controllers, missing two paychecks, prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend operations, leading to more than 7,500 flight cancellations. Tourism Economics estimated a daily loss of $63 million in travel spending, amounting to $2.6 billion over six weeks. Hotels, restaurants, and transportation services faced ripple effects, and many federal employees canceled upcoming trips that may not be rescheduled.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected that the shutdown would reduce fourth-quarter GDP growth by 1.5 percentage points, cutting it nearly in half compared to the previous quarter. While a rebound of 2.2 percentage points is expected in the first quarter of the following year, the $11 billion in lost economic activity will not be recouped.
Federal contract awards came to a near halt, particularly at agencies like the Department of Defense, NASA, and Homeland Security. Oxford Economics’ Bernard Yaros estimated that $800 million in new contracts were at risk each day the government remained closed, stalling infrastructure and defense projects.
Additionally, the distribution of $8 billion in SNAP food assistance to 42 million recipients was delayed in November, creating hardship for low-income households. While some states managed to cover benefits, others awaited federal clarification, exacerbating food insecurity.
The absence of key economic data—such as unemployment and inflation reports—hampered the Federal Reserve’s ability to assess the economy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted the lack of information could delay a planned interest rate cut in December, as policymakers navigate uncertainty. “What do you do if you’re driving in the fog? You slow down,” Powell remarked, underscoring the central bank’s cautious stance.
Though a recession remains unlikely, the shutdown intensified existing economic pressures, including slow hiring and inflation. The Washington metropolitan area, heavily reliant on federal employment, saw its unemployment rate rise to 6% before the shutdown, further impacted by earlier workforce reductions.
Overall, while much of the lost output will be regained, the prolonged closure has left a measurable scar on the economy, particularly in consumer confidence and public trust in governance.
— news from Los Angeles Times
— News Original —
Record government shutdown leaves an estimated $11 billion in permanent economic damage
The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history appears to be nearing an end, but not without leaving a mark on an already-struggling economy. n nAbout 1.25 million federal workers haven’t been paid since Oct. 1. Thousands of flights have been canceled, a trend that is expected to continue this week even as Congress moves toward reopening the government. Government contract awards have slowed and some food aid recipients have seen their benefits interrupted. n nMost of the lost economic activity will be recovered when the government reopens, as federal workers will receive back pay. But some canceled flights won’t be retaken, missed restaurant meals won’t be made up, and some postponed purchases will end up not happening at all. n n“Short-lived shutdowns are usually invisible in the data, but this one will leave a lasting mark,” Gregory Daco, chief economist at accounting giant EY, said, “both because of its record length and the growing disruptions to welfare programs and travel.” n nThe Congressional Budget Office estimated that a six-week shutdown will reduce growth in this year’s fourth quarter by about 1.5 percentage points. That would cut growth by half from the third quarter. The reopening should boost first-quarter growth next year by 2.2 percentage points, the CBO projected, but about $11 billion in economic activity will be permanently lost. n nThe previous longest government shutdown, in 2018-2019, lasted 35 days but only partially shut the government because many agencies had been fully funded. It only nicked the economy by about 0.02% of GDP, the CBO said then. n nThe current shutdown is adding to the economy’s existing challenges, which include sluggish hiring, stubbornly elevated inflation, and President Trump’s tariffs, which have caused uncertainty for many businesses. Still, few economists foresee a recession. n nAbout 650,000 federal workers didn’t work during the shutdown, which will likely boost the unemployment rate by about 0.4 percentage points in October, or to 4.7% from 4.3% in August, when the last report was released. Those workers would all then be counted as employed once the government reopens. n nHere are the ways the government closure is weighing on the economy: n nMissed paychecks n nAll told, federal workers will have missed about $16 billion in wages by mid-November, the CBO estimates. That has meant less spending at stores, restaurants, and likely reduced holiday travel. Large purchases will probably be postponed, slowing the broader economy. n nTrump had threatened during the shutdown to not provide back pay but the deal struck in Congress would replace those lost wages once the government reopens. n nThe shutdown has added to the Washington area’s economic woes: The unemployment rate was already 6% before the shutdown, after Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce this spring caused job losses. While the Washington area — including the nearby suburbs in Virginia and Maryland — has the highest concentration of federal workers, most live and work outside of the nation’s capital. n nFederal workers make up about 5.5% of Maryland’s workforce, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. But they also comprise 2.9% of New Mexico’s workers, 2.6% of Oklahoma’s, and 3.8% of Alaska’s. n nThen there are the federal contractors. Bernard Yaros, an economist at Oxford Economics, estimates they could total as many as 5.2 million, and they are not guaranteed back pay once the shutdown ends. n nFlight disruptions n nAirlines scrapped more than 2,000 flights by Monday evening after canceling 5,500 since Friday on orders from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is seeking to reduce the burden on overworked air traffic controllers, who have now missed two paychecks. n nEven before the flight cancellations, Tourism Economics, an economic consulting firm, estimated that the shutdown would reduce travel spending by $63 million a day, which means a six-week standoff would cost the travel industry $2.6 billion. n nThe canceled flights also mean less business for hotels, restaurants, and taxi drivers. And federal employees have already pulled the plug on upcoming trips, according to Tourism Economics, which may not be able to be rescheduled even when the government does reopen. n nConsumer sentiment n nThe shutdown has worsened Americans’ outlook on the broader economy. Declining consumer sentiment can over time reduce spending and slow growth, though in recent years Americans have kept shopping even when their outlooks turned grim. n nConsumer sentiment dropped to a three-year low and close to the lowest point ever recorded in a survey by the University of Michigan, reported Friday, with pessimism over personal finances and anticipated business conditions weighing on Americans. n nThe November survey showed the index of consumer sentiment at 50.4, down a startling 6.2% from last month and a plunge of nearly 30% from a year ago. n nFederal spending n nWhile the shutdown hasn’t cut off all federal government spending, it has reduced purchases of equipment and has cut off the issuance of new contracts. n nYaros estimates that about $800 million in new contracts were at risk of not being awarded each day of the shutdown. n n“The federal award spigot has all but turned off at the Department of Defense, NASA, and the Department of Homeland Security,” Yaros wrote. n nSNAP benefits n nThe shutdown delayed the payment of $8 billion in monthly SNAP food aid to 42 million recipients in November, creating a significant financial disruption for many households that likely reduced spending. Some states have managed to pay full benefits for this month, though the Trump administration is still fighting over the issue in court. n nThe deal currently under consideration in Congress to reopen the government includes full funding of SNAP benefits. n nInterest rate cuts n nThe government shutdown cut off the flow of economic data on unemployment, inflation, and retail spending that the Federal Reserve depends on to monitor the economy’s health. Even as the government reopens, some of that data will still be delayed. As a result, the Fed may not deliver a third interest rate cut at its December meeting, which was widely expected before the shutdown. n n“What do you do if you’re driving in the fog? You slow down,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference late last month. n nPowell said the Fed’s interest rate setting committee is deeply divided over whether to reduce its key rate, partly because the economy’s health is unusually cloudy right now. The government has missed two monthly jobs reports and the October inflation data, scheduled to be published Thursday, will likely never be issued. n nPowell said a rate cut in December was not a “foregone conclusion” and added that the lack of data could contribute to a decision by the Fed to skip a rate cut at its next meeting December 9-10. Fewer rate cuts could discourage borrowing and spending and weigh on the economy in the coming months.