For Whom the Shutdown Tolls

摘要

What if the partial U.S. government shutdown extends into spring or beyond? That's the scary scenario many businesses and households are having to ponder. An administration official said the White House is drawing up game plans for the shutdown to last at least through February-even as President Trump's economic advisers are warning it's already having a negative impact on growth. "Shutdowns don't get bad linearly; they get bad exponentially," says Sam Berger, a senior adviser at the Center for American Progress, who worked at the Office of Management and Budget under President Barack Obama. Here's what might happen:The Agriculture Department has said there may not be enough money to keep food assistance benefits flowing to 38 million recipients past February. Joe Brusuelas, chief economist with consultant RSM US LLC, estimates the interruption could strip at least 0.53 percentage points from gross domestic product.