October 16, 2025 | 12:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The ongoing government shutdown in the United States is estimated to cost the country’s economy as much as US$15 billion, or around Rp249.2 trillion, each day, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday.
“I've seen figures that are starting to hurt the economy, maybe up to $15 billion a day,” Bessent told CNBC, as quoted by Antara, when asked about the impact of the shutdown on the economy.
The shutdown began after the new fiscal year started on October 1, but Congress failed to approve the federal budget, leaving the government unable to operate.
As a result, many agencies directly funded by Congress have halted operations, a situation that, while disruptive, is not unprecedented.
President Donald Trump previously indicated that the shutdown could be used as an opportunity to cut salaries and recruit new staff.
According to France 24, a court document last Friday reported that over 4,000 federal employees have been dismissed, including more than 1,000 staff from the Treasury Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bessent and other officials blamed the Democratic Party for creating a budget deadlock, while the White House sought to use the situation to eliminate programs opposed by Republicans.
A Treasury Department spokesperson confirmed that layoff notices have begun going out to employees, while the Department of Health and Human Services reported that non-essential staff were being furloughed.
Other affected agencies include the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Homeland Security, and Energy, according to court filings.
Even employees who remain on the job are impacted, as many are not receiving pay during the shutdown. The deadlock is expected to continue at least until the middle of next week, prolonging disruptions to both federal operations and the broader economy.
Dewi Rina Cahyani also contributed to this article.
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