A sign indicates that the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is closed on October 21, 2025 due to the U.S. government shutdown. Photo by DANIEL HEUER/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. government shutdown has become the longest in history, and with no sign of a resolution soon its economic toll is deepening.

Now in its 36th day, the shutdown has surpassed the previous record set in early 2019 during United States President Donald Trump ’s first term. Every week that passes costs the economy anywhere from US$10 billion to US/$30 billion, based on analysts’ estimates, with several landing in the US$15 billion range.

In the past, the hit to economic growth has been temporary, with furloughed employees getting back pay and the federal government making up for the halted spending once

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