A federal shutdown is imminent unless Congress and the White House reach a deal by midnight on September 30. The economic impact could be significant, with national parks and museums closing, food safety inspections halting, and services to small businesses being cut off. Low-income families relying on the Women, Infants and Children program may also face disruption in receiving groceries.
The current economic climate makes the shutdown particularly vulnerable, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. A prolonged shutdown could push the economy under. Historical examples show that shutdowns have prevented older Americans from accessing certain services, including new benefit cards.
A deal must be reached to avoid a disruption in government funding. The outcome will affect American consumers and businesses, highlighting the importance of finding a compromise before the deadline.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/us/politics/government-shutdown-us-economy.html