Treasury Secretary Bessent says U.S. GDP could take a hit from the shutdown

Core Viewpoint - U.S. economic growth may be negatively impacted by the ongoing government shutdown, with potential hits to GDP and working Americans as indicated by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent [1][2]. Economic Impact - The U.S. economy has shown growth in the past two quarters, with GDP rising at a 3.8% annualized rate in the second quarter and projected to maintain that rate in the third quarter according to the Atlanta Federal Reserve tracker [3]. - Previous government shutdowns have had minimal impact on growth; however, a prolonged shutdown could cause damage, especially if significant layoffs of federal workers occur [4].