Part 2/9:
At its core, the shutdown cripples vital government functions, with federal workers unable to receive their paychecks. This financial strain trickles down to individual families, affecting their ability to pay car loans, buy groceries, or meet student loan obligations. Such disruptions ripple through local economies, ultimately costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars each week. The full scope of these impacts may remain uncertain for months but are undeniably severe, especially for those living paycheck to paycheck.