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Government closures have become a recurring element of US politics – but this one feels particularly intractable because of political dynamics and deep-seated animosity between both major parties.

Some government services are temporarily suspended, with approximately 750,000 people are expected to be put on furlough without pay since Republicans and Democrats remain unable to reach consensus on a spending bill.

Legislative attempts to resolve the impasse have repeatedly failed, and it is hard to see a clear resolution path in this instance as each side – as well as the nation's leader – perceive advantages in digging in.

Here are the four ways that make this shutdown distinct currently.

First, For Democrats, it's about Trump – beyond healthcare issues

The Democratic base have insisted for months that their party more forcefully fights the Trump administration. Well now the party leadership have an opportunity to demonstrate their responsiveness.

Earlier this year, the Senate's top Democrat was fiercely criticised after supporting a Republican spending bill thus preventing a shutdown early this year. This time he's holding firm.

This is a chance for Democrats to demonstrate they can take back some control from a presidency pursuing its agenda assertively with determined action.

Refusing to back the GOP budget proposal comes with political risk that the wider public will grow frustrated with prolonged negotiations and consequences begin to mount.

The Democrats are leveraging the budget standoff to highlight concerns about ending healthcare financial support and Republican-approved government healthcare cuts affecting low-income populations, which are both unpopular.

They are also trying to curtail executive utilization of presidential authority to rescind or withhold money authorized legislatively, a practice demonstrated in international assistance and various federal programs.

2. For Republicans, they see potential

The administration leader along with a senior aide have openly indicated of the fact that they smell a chance to make more of the cutbacks to the federal workforce implemented during in the Republican's second presidency so far.

The President himself said last week that the shutdown had afforded him an "unprecedented opportunity", adding he intended to cut "opposition-supported departments".

The White House stated they would face the "unenviable task" of mass lay-offs to maintain critical federal operations should the impasse persist. The Press Secretary said this was just "budgetary responsibility".

The scope of the potential lay-offs is still uncertain, but the White House has been in discussions with the Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, under the leadership of the key official.

The administration's financial chief has already announced the halting of government financial support for Democratic-run parts the opposition party, including New York City and Illinois' largest city.

3. There's little trust on either side

While previous shutdowns typically involved late-night talks between the two parties aimed at restoring federal operations, there appears to be little of the same spirit of collaboration this time.

Conversely, there is rancour. Political tensions persisted recently, with Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for causing the impasse.

House Speaker from the majority party, accused Democrats with insufficient commitment about negotiating, and maintaining positions over a deal "for electoral protection".

Simultaneously, the opposition's chief made similar charges against their counterparts, stating how a majority party commitment regarding health funding talks once the government reopens can not be taken seriously.

The administration leader personally has escalated tensions by posting a controversial AI-generated image featuring the opposition leader and the top Democrat in the House, in which the legislator is depicted with traditional headwear and facial hair.

The affected legislator and other Democrats called this racist, a characterization rejected by the Vice-President.

4. The US economy is fragile

Analysts expect about 40% of the federal workforce – more than 800,000 people – to be put on unpaid leave due to the government closure.

That will depress spending – and also have wider ramifications, including halted environmental approvals, delayed intellectual property processing, interrupted vendor payments and other kinds of federal operations connected to commercial interests comes to a halt.

The closure additionally introduces new uncertainty within economic systems already being roiled from multiple factors including tariffs, previous budget reductions, enforcement actions and technological advancements.

Economic forecasters project that it could shave approximately 0.2% from national economic expansion for each week it lasts.

However, economic activity generally rebounds most of that lost activity after a shutdown ends, similar to recovery patterns after major environmental events.

That could be one reason why financial markets have shown limited reaction to the ongoing impasse.

On the other hand, analysts say that if the President carries out proposed significant workforce reductions, the damage could be extended in duration.