Overview
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said growth this quarter could be cut by as much as half if the government funding lapse persists.
- He described day-by-day deterioration that includes unpaid federal employees and delayed economic data, complicating policy and business decisions.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned U.S. air traffic could slow to a trickle heading into Thanksgiving as air traffic control staffing strains deepen.
- The partial shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is now the longest on record with economists warning it is eroding business and household confidence and delaying federal payments.
- Reporting highlights pressure on programs such as SNAP and WIC and rising risk of flight reductions that would affect travelers nationwide.