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Government closures are a repeat feature of US politics – but the current situation appears especially difficult to resolve because of shifting political forces along with deep-seated animosity between both major parties.

Some government services are temporarily suspended, with approximately 750,000 employees likely to be placed on furlough without pay as both political parties remain unable to reach consensus on a spending bill.

Votes aimed at ending the deadlock have repeatedly failed, and it is hard to see a clear resolution path in this instance because each side – as well as the nation's leader – perceive advantages in digging in.

These are the four ways that make things feel different in 2025.

First, For Democrats, it's about Trump – not just healthcare

The Democratic base has been demanding for months for their representatives more forcefully fights the current presidency. Well now Democratic leaders have an opportunity to show they have listened.

Earlier this year, the Senate's top Democrat was fiercely criticised for helping pass a Republican spending bill thus preventing a shutdown in the spring. This time he's holding firm.

This is a chance for Democrats to show they can take back some control from a presidency that has moved aggressively with determined action.

Opposing the Republican spending plan comes with political risk as citizens generally may become impatient as the dispute drags on and consequences begin to mount.

The Democrats are leveraging the shutdown fight to highlight concerns about expiring health insurance subsidies together with GOP-backed government healthcare cuts for the poor, which are both unpopular.

They are also trying to curtail executive utilization of his executive powers to cancel or delay funding approved by Congress, a practice demonstrated with foreign aid and various federal programs.

Second, For Republicans, it's an opportunity

The administration leader and one of his key officials have made little secret of the fact that they smell a chance to advance further reductions in government employment implemented during in the Republican's second presidency to date.

The President himself stated recently that the government closure had afforded him an "unprecedented opportunity", and that he would look to reduce funding for "opposition-supported departments".

Administration officials stated they would face the "unenviable task" involving significant workforce reductions to maintain critical federal operations should the impasse persist. The Press Secretary said this was just "budgetary responsibility".

The extent of possible job cuts remains unclear, though administration officials has been in discussions with federal budget authorities, the budgeting office, under the leadership of the key official.

The budget director has already announced the halting of government financial support for regions governed by the opposition party, such as NYC and Chicago.

Third, Trust Is Lacking on either side

Whereas past government closures have been characterised by extended negotiations among political opponents aimed at restoring federal operations, currently there seems little of the same spirit for compromise presently.

Instead, there is rancour. The bad blood persisted recently, as both sides blaming each other regarding the deadlock's origin.

House Speaker from the majority party, accused Democrats with insufficient commitment about negotiating, and maintaining positions over a deal "to get political cover".

Simultaneously, the Senate leader levelled the same accusation against their counterparts, saying that a majority party commitment regarding health funding talks after operations resume cannot be trusted.

The President himself has inflamed the situation by posting a controversial AI-generated image featuring the opposition leader along with another senior in the House, in which the representative is depicted with traditional headwear and a moustache.

The representative and other Democrats called this racist, which was denied by the administration's second-in-command.

Fourth, The American Economy faces vulnerability

Analysts expect approximately two-fifths of the federal workforce – more than 800,000 people – to be put on unpaid leave as a result of the shutdown.

This will reduce consumer expenditure – with broader economic consequences, including halted environmental approvals, delayed intellectual property processing, interrupted vendor payments and other kinds of government activity connected to commercial interests comes to a halt.

The closure additionally introduces fresh instability into an economy currently experiencing disruption from multiple factors including tariffs, earlier cuts to government spending, enforcement actions and artificial intelligence.

Analysts estimate potential reduction of as much as 0.2 percentage points from national economic expansion weekly during the closure.

But the economy typically recoups the majority of interrupted operations following resolution, similar to recovery patterns caused by a natural disaster.

That could be one reason why financial markets have shown limited reaction by the current stand-off.

Conversely, analysts say that if the President carries out his threat of mass firings, the damage could be more long-lasting.