Core Insights - The U.S. government shutdown has entered its second week with no end in sight, causing economic impacts to spread from initial sectors to broader areas [1] - Over 250,000 federal employees missed their paychecks this week, with an additional 2 million expected to face similar issues next week [1] - Economists estimate that the shutdown will reduce U.S. GDP by 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points for each week it continues [1] Group 1: Service Disruptions - Air travel has been significantly affected, with over half of flight delays attributed to air traffic controller shortages [2] - The U.S. Travel Association estimates a weekly loss of $1 billion in spending due to the shutdown [2] - The IRS has cut nearly half of its workforce, impacting taxpayer services, with approximately 34,000 employees on leave [2] Group 2: Agency Strategies - Agencies are employing a "rolling shutdown" strategy, recalling or laying off employees as needed to balance conflicting legal requirements [3] - The EPA has begun issuing furlough notices, with nearly 90% of its employees expected to be on leave [3] - The Department of Homeland Security plans to recall nearly 1,800 employees, primarily from senior management and border protection [3] Group 3: Economic Data Disruptions - The shutdown has led to significant delays in government data releases, complicating economic assessments [4] - The Labor Department has postponed the release of last week's employment report, and other key economic indicators face delays [4] - The lack of official data is creating blind spots for the Federal Reserve and private forecasting institutions [4] Group 4: Political Dynamics - Historical patterns suggest that severe impacts on travelers, taxpayers, and military personnel typically push Congress to resolve funding deadlocks [6] - The current administration is attempting to leverage the shutdown to exert pressure on Democratic districts by threatening layoffs of federal employees [6] - The White House has indicated potential large-scale layoffs, which could further strain already reduced agency capacities [6]