2025-09-30
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How could America's government shut down and hit the world's biggest economy?
It's World Business Express from the BBC World Service on Diana Byrne.
Africa waits to see
if a duty-free trade deal with the US survives and Germany's jobless rate ticks higher.
What that says about Europe's economic engine?
Yes, we are hours away from a possible US government shutdown.
Right now, Washington is still deadlocked.
But when I say government shutdown, what does that actually mean?
What stops?
What keeps going?
And who's going to feel it?
To explain, here's our reporter, Hannah Malaine.
In the US,
a government shutdown happens when the two main political parties can't agree on how the country should be funded for the next year.
That could bring some but not all US government services to a temporary halt.
Essential workers like air traffic controllers and border guards will still work, but museums,
national parks and top tourist attractions will close and many government workers will have to stay at home.
They don't get paid but in the past have received back pay once an agreement has been made.
Shutdowns over budgets are almost unique to US politics