Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday warned that the government shutdown could harm economic growth and blasted Dems for the impasse.

“This isn’t the way to have a discussion, shutting down the government and lowering the GDP,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on the second day of the shutdown. “We could see a hit to the GDP, a hit to growth and a hit to working America.” 3

The comments came after legislation to continue funding the government failed to pass in the Senate, sparking the shutdown after midnight on Tuesday.

“The Democrats want to negotiate like terrorists,” Bessent fumed. “They want to say, ‘This is what we have to have and if we don’t get it, we’re going to close down the government.'”

Bessent accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Lead

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