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Government closures have become a recurring element of US politics – however this one feels especially difficult to resolve because of political dynamics and bad blood among the two parties.

Certain federal operations face a temporary halt, with approximately 750,000 people likely to be placed on furlough without pay as Republicans and Democrats can't agree on a spending bill.

Votes aimed at ending the impasse have repeatedly failed, with little visibility on a clear resolution path in this instance because both parties – including the nation's leader – perceive advantages in maintaining their positions.

These are the four ways in which things feel different currently.

1. For Democrats, it's about Trump – not just healthcare

Democratic supporters have insisted for months that their party more forcefully fights the Trump administration. Currently Democratic leaders have an opportunity to show their responsiveness.

Earlier this year, the Senate's top Democrat was fiercely criticised for helping pass GOP budget legislation and averting a government closure in the spring. This time he's digging in.

This presents an opportunity for the Democratic party to show their ability to reclaim some control from an administration pursuing its agenda assertively with determined action.

Opposing the Republican spending plan carries electoral dangers as citizens generally will grow frustrated as the dispute drags on and impacts accumulate.

The Democrats are leveraging the budget standoff to put a spotlight on expiring health insurance subsidies and Republican-approved government healthcare cuts for the poor, which are both unpopular.

They are also trying to curtail the President's use of presidential authority to rescind or withhold money authorized legislatively, a practice demonstrated with foreign aid and other programmes.

2. For Republicans, they see potential

The President along with a senior aide have made little secret their perspective that they perceive an opening to advance further the cutbacks in government employment implemented during in the Republican's second presidency to date.

The nation's leader personally said last week that the government closure had afforded him an "unprecedented opportunity", adding he intended to cut "opposition-supported departments".

Administration officials said it would be left with the "unenviable task" involving significant workforce reductions to keep essential government services operating if the shutdown continued. An administration spokesperson described this as "budgetary responsibility".

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

The administration's financial chief has already announced the suspension of federal funding for regions governed by of the country, including New York City and Illinois' largest city.

Third, Trust Is Lacking between both parties

Whereas past government closures have been characterised by late-night talks among political opponents aimed at restoring federal operations, currently there seems minimal cooperative willingness of collaboration this time.

Conversely, animosity prevails. The bad blood continued over the weekend, with Republicans and Democrats exchanging accusations for causing the impasse.

House Speaker from the majority party, charged opposition members of not being serious toward resolution, and maintaining positions during discussions "for electoral protection".

Meanwhile, the opposition's chief levelled the same accusation against their counterparts, saying that a Republican promise regarding health funding talks after operations resume cannot be trusted.

The administration leader personally has escalated tensions through sharing a computer-created controversial depiction of the Senate leader along with another senior in the House, where the representative is depicted with traditional headwear and facial hair.

The affected legislator with party colleagues denounced this as discriminatory, a characterization rejected by the administration's second-in-command.

Fourth, The American Economy is fragile

Experts project approximately two-fifths of the federal workforce – over 800,000 workers – to be put on unpaid leave as a result of the shutdown.

That will depress spending – with broader economic consequences, including halted environmental approvals, delayed intellectual property processing, payments to contractors along with various forms of federal operations tied to business cease functioning.

The closure additionally introduces fresh instability into an economy currently experiencing disruption by changes ranging from tariffs, earlier cuts to government spending, immigration raids and technological advancements.

Economic forecasters project that it could shave as much as 0.2 percentage points off US economic growth for each week it lasts.

However, economic activity generally rebounds most of that lost activity after a shutdown ends, as it would after disruption caused by a natural disaster.

That could be one reason why the stock market have shown limited reaction by the current stand-off.

On the other hand, experts indicate that if administration officials implement his threat of mass firings, economic harm might become extended in duration.