The US government shutdown has already cost the country approximately $18 billion, and this is just the beginning. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if government services remain suspended, the losses will escalate at an alarming rate.

Initially, the shutdown slows the economy, much like a traffic jam on a highway. GDP is projected to decline by at least one percentage point in the fourth quarter. If the shutdown extends to Thanksgiving Day, the financial toll could increase sharply, reaching $39 billion.

The impact is felt by federal employees, with approximately 650,000 workers now classified as temporarily unemployed due to unpaid leave. This poses the risk of the largest spike in the unemployment rate since the onset of the pandemic.

However, there is a silver lining. Bloomberg forecasts a short-term stimulus for next year that could potentially boost the economy before another surge. In the meantime, each day of the government shutdown adds billions to the economic damage and affects the daily lives of millions of Americans.