• The U.S. government shutdown is costing the economy approximately $15 billion weekly, according to Treasury Secretary Bessent.
• Bessent urges Democrats to collaborate with Republicans to resolve the shutdown, emphasizing its negative impact.
• Despite the shutdown, there remains an ongoing investment boom in sectors like artificial intelligence, attributed to Trump's policies.
• Confidence among small businesses is reportedly declining due to the prolonged government impasse.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the ongoing federal government shutdown could cost the U.S. economy an estimated $15 billion a week in lost output, emphasizing that the shutdown is detrimental to economic activity. Bessent described the situation as "starting to cut into muscle" of the economy, urging Democrats to "be heroes" and work alongside Republicans to swiftly end the shutdown, which has persisted for over two weeks, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Anadolu Agency.

During a CNBC event, Bessent reiterated that ongoing investments driven by President Trump's economic policies are sustainable, but the government shutdown is increasingly hindering this momentum. He expressed optimism about the potential for economic growth, suggesting the U.S. could experience a period similar to the transformative eras of the late 1800s and the 1990s, citing innovation in sectors like artificial intelligence as a key component of the growth narrative, according to TRT World, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

Bessent also warned that the shutdown could affect the labor market, leading to a decline in confidence among small businesses, which are critical to the economy's health. Despite these challenges, he confirmed that the Pentagon is equipped to pay salaries for U.S. servicemen during the shutdown, highlighting a mixed impact of the situation, as reported by Anadolu Agency and TRT World.