Analysis: How much could the federal government shutdown cost the economy?

Analysis: How much could the federal government shutdown cost the economy? Politics Nov 2, 2025 6:24 PM EST

This article originally appeared on PolitiFact .

The federal shutdown — one month long and counting — has an obvious economic impact for government workers who aren’t receiving paychecks and food aid recipients who didn’t get their benefits Nov. 1.

But what about the broader economy? History points to some effect there, too.

In past shutdowns , estimates of lost economic activity have reached into the billions of dollars. In the context of a $30 trillion economy , that’s not a lot. But on the margins, economists say it can have an effect.

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