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Shutdowns have become a recurring feature of US politics – but this one feels especially difficult to resolve because of political dynamics along with bad blood between the two parties.

Some government services are temporarily suspended, with approximately 750,000 people likely to be placed on furlough without pay since both political parties remain unable to reach consensus on a spending bill.

Votes aimed at ending the deadlock continue to fall short, and it is hard to see a clear resolution path this time because both parties – including the President – can see some merit in digging in.

Here are several key factors that make things feel different currently.

First, For Democrats, the focus is on Trump – beyond healthcare issues

The Democratic base have insisted for months that their party adopt stronger opposition against the current presidency. Well now Democratic leaders have an opportunity to demonstrate their responsiveness.

In March, Senate leader was fiercely criticised after supporting a Republican spending bill thus preventing a government closure in the spring. This time he's digging in.

This is a chance for the Democratic party to demonstrate they can take back some control from a presidency that has moved aggressively with determined action.

Refusing to back the Republican spending plan comes with political risk as citizens generally will grow frustrated with prolonged negotiations and consequences begin to mount.

Democratic representatives are using the budget standoff to put a spotlight on ending healthcare financial support together with Republican-approved federal health program reductions affecting low-income populations, which are both unpopular.

Additionally, they're attempting to restrict the President's use of his executive powers to rescind or withhold money approved by Congress, a practice demonstrated with foreign aid and various federal programs.

2. For Republicans, it's an opportunity

The President and one of his key officials have made little secret their perspective that they smell a chance to make more of reductions in government employment that have featured the current presidential term so far.

The nation's leader personally stated recently that the government closure had afforded him an "unprecedented opportunity", and that he would look to cut "opposition-supported departments".

Administration officials said it would be left with the "unenviable task" of mass lay-offs to maintain critical federal operations should the impasse persist. An administration spokesperson described this as "fiscal sanity".

The scope of the potential lay-offs is still uncertain, though administration officials have been consulting with federal budget authorities, the budgeting office, which is headed by the key official.

The budget director has already announced the suspension of federal funding for regions governed by of the country, including New York City and Chicago.

3. There's little trust between both parties

Whereas past government closures have been characterised by extended negotiations between the two parties in an effort to get federal operations, currently there seems little of the same spirit for compromise presently.

Instead, there is rancour. Political tensions continued over the weekend, as both sides blaming each other for causing the impasse.

The legislative leader a Republican, accused Democrats of not being serious toward resolution, and maintaining positions over a deal "to get political cover".

Meanwhile, the opposition's chief levelled the same accusation against their counterparts, stating how a majority party commitment regarding health funding talks after operations resume can not be taken seriously.

The administration leader personally has escalated tensions through sharing a computer-created controversial depiction of the Senate leader along with another senior opposition figure, where the representative appears wearing a large Mexican-style sombrero and facial hair.

The representative with party colleagues denounced this as discriminatory, a characterization rejected by the Vice-President.

Fourth, The American Economy faces vulnerability

Analysts expect approximately two-fifths of the federal workforce – over 800,000 workers – to be put on unpaid leave as a result of the government closure.

This will reduce consumer expenditure – and also have wider ramifications, including halted environmental approvals, patent approvals, payments to contractors and other kinds of government activity connected to commercial interests cease functioning.

A shutdown also injects fresh instability within economic systems currently experiencing disruption from multiple factors including tariffs, previous budget reductions, enforcement actions and technological advancements.

Analysts estimate that it could shave as much as 0.2 percentage points off US economic growth weekly during the closure.

But the economy typically recoups most of that lost activity after a shutdown ends, similar to recovery patterns after major environmental events.

This might explain partially why the stock market have shown limited reaction by the current stand-off.

Conversely, experts indicate should administration officials implement proposed significant workforce reductions, economic harm might become extended in duration.