Political analysts are sounding serious alarms over the state of the U.S. government, warning that the looming shutdown could have major consequences for Americans.
Experts note that the deep rift between Democrats and President Donald Trump’s Republicans has made reaching a compromise “nearly impossible,” raising concerns that this shutdown could become one of the longest in the nation’s 249-year history.
“It’s possible this shutdown could last for weeks, not just days,” Andrew Koneschusky, former press secretary to Senator Chuck Schumer, told AFP.
“Right now, both sides are firmly entrenched, with little sign of compromise.”
During Trump’s first term in 2018 and 2019, the federal government faced its longest shutdown in history, lasting roughly five weeks and bringing operations across numerous agencies to a complete halt.
Meanwhile, the 79-year-old president has blamed Democrats for obstructing his attempts to pass a funding bill.
“They’re causing it. We’re ready to go back,” he told reporters at the White House on Sunday, October 5.
He also cautioned that his administration had begun permanently terminating federal employees, rather than merely furloughing them, once again placing the responsibility for the growing disruption on his political rivals.
Trump is targeting the Democrats because they hold the majority in the Senate, where the spending bill was introduced.
The party has refused to back the Republican proposal, arguing that it could make healthcare less affordable for Americans. Democrats are also pushing to reverse Trump’s cuts to Medicaid and oppose reductions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Earlier this year, Democrats reluctantly approved a temporary funding plan to avert a shutdown but faced criticism from within their own ranks.
Jeff Le, a former senior California official, warned that a resolution could take some time.
“I could see a temporary agreement from both parties by the end of October,” Le told AFP.
“Anything beyond two months would severely disrupt government operations and could even affect national and homeland security.”
He also cautioned that public frustration could become a major factor, with both parties at risk of facing blame if the stalemate stretches through October.
Economists are already warning of serious consequences, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioning that the shutdown could slow GDP growth, while some analysts estimate the economy could be losing billions of dollars each week.
Financial analyst Michael Ashley Schulman suggested that a significant market reaction might finally compel both sides to act.
“If Wall Street gets spooked and Treasury yields spike, even the most ideologically committed will suddenly find a strong incentive for bipartisan solutions,” he said.
For now, with tens of thousands of federal workers unpaid and essential services halted, the shutdown shows little sign of ending soon.
