How Much Money American Loosing Every Day Because of the Government Shutdown

The federal shutdown began on October 1, 2025, when the continuing resolution funding the government expired and Congress did not pass a replacement. 

By November 5, 2025 the shutdown had reached 36 days, making it the longest in U.S. history, surpassing the previous record of 35 days (December 2018–January 2019). 

At the time of writing (November 9, 2025) the shutdown is still ongoing.

Economic Costs

Putting a precise dollar-figure per day is challenging, but analysts provide various perspectives that allow for a ballpark estimate.

1. Aggregate cost estimates
   
• The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy between $7 billion and $14 billion in total, if it continues into the fourth quarter of 2025.  
• One estimate puts federal spending temporarily reduced by about $33 billion, rising to perhaps $74 billion if the shutdown lasts eight weeks; missed paychecks for federal employees could be “already around $9 billion” and up to $16 billion or more if it drags on.  
2. Daily or weekly cost approximations
   
• One article cites losses of $7 billion to $16 billion per week from this shutdown.  
• A previous travel-industry estimate suggested a shutdown might cost the economy ~$140 million per day (though that figure was specific to travel-industry impacts).  
• A broader analysis from the Brookings Institution estimated about $2 billion per week reduction in GDP from an average shutdown scenario.  
3. Putting it together
   
• If one uses the higher weekly figure (~$15 billion per week), that converts to roughly $2.1 billion per day (assuming 7 days).
• If lower estimates apply (~$7 billion per week), that’s about $1 billion per day.
• Given the wide range and that some costs accrue later (for example long-term growth impacts), a plausible “middle” estimate might be $1–2 billion of economic output lost per day, plus additional budgetary and fiscal costs (back pay, restarting costs, etc.)

4 Why the costs matter

The shutdown’s effects are felt in multiple ways:

• Federal workers: Many furloughed or working without pay, which reduces household spending and affects local economies.  
• Federal contractors and small businesses: Some cannot get government-backed loans or contracts during the shutdown, hurting liquidity and investment.  
• Delays in federal spending: When government agencies stop or reduce operations, that ripples into the economy.  
• Travel, airports and border/air-security issues: Staffing issues at agencies like Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lead to delays and higher costs.  
• Long-term growth: The CBO anticipates a reduction of “1 to 2 percentage points” off fourth-quarter GDP growth if the shutdown extends for weeks.  

Bottom line

As of early November 2025 the government shutdown has lasted 36 days and counting. Economists estimate its cost in terms of lost economic output, delayed spending and program disruptions could be in the range of $1–2 billion per day, depending on how long it continues and how many knock-on effects arise. While some losses (like back pay to federal workers) may eventually be recovered, other impacts—such as lower consumer spending, delayed business investment, diminished growth—may impose more lasting damage.