Longest 36 Days US Government Shutdown Delays Crypto Bill Progress

The US Government Shutdown Breaks Record: $600B Borrowed, GDP Down 2%

The US Government Shutdown counts day 36, the longest in the history of the United States. As federal operations stop, the crisis is destroying the economy, interrupting air travel, postponing payments, and hindering crypto bill progress.

US Shutdown Records 36 Days and Counting.

The United States has officially gone into the longest period of US government shutdown in history, 36 days as of today. It started on October 1, 2025, and does not appear to be coming to an end soon. And it is estimated that it might continue until December 1, a record-breaking 61-day shutdown.

This extended stalled government functions are impacting not only economic development but also the safety of travel and even the cryptocurrency laws. The White House and Congress are under pressure, but they have yet to agree on how to reopen federal agencies.

Source: CoinDesk 

Crypto Bill Progress Delayed

The Executive Director of the White House Digital Assets Advisory Council, Patrick Witt, claimed that President Trump still hopes to pass the crypto market structure bill before the end of 2025. Nevertheless, a significant number of industry analysts feel that the bill may be held to 2026 as the shutdown continues.

The delay is an added uncertainty to an already precarious market of digital assets, as the crypto industry is awaiting definite regulations on trading, taxation, and compliance.

Impacts on the US Economy: Debt Rising & GDP down

The financial cost of the shut down is becoming alarming. Since October 1, the U.S. government has borrowed $600 billion, averaging $17 billion per day. 

Despite earning over $30 billion monthly from tariffs, the 2025 fiscal deficit still stands at $1.8 trillion. Analysts now warn that total U.S. debt could hit $40 trillion by 2026.

Source: The Kobeissi Letter X

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the shutdown could:

• Reduce Q4 GDP by up to 2% (200 basis points)

• Erase $39 billion from the economy

• Delay $48 billion in payments and $23 billion in federal paychecks

• Meanwhile, federal unemployment claims have jumped 1,200% since the start— the highest level since 2018.

Air Travel Disrupted Nationwide

The Department of Transportation has announced mandatory flight cuts at major airports starting Friday, reducing air traffic by 10% if no deal is reached.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that 50% of major air traffic facilities are short-staffed, and 90% of controllers in New York–area airports are currently unavailable. As a result:

Source: Kobeissi Letter

• 3.2 million passengers have faced flight delays or cancellations

• 3.5 million more are expected to be affected during Thanksgiving week

• Total disruptions could exceed 10 million passengers by December 1

Federal Reserve Rate Cut Amid Shutdown

While the S&P 500 remains about 3,800 points higher than it was during the 2018 shutdown, the current situation poses unique challenges. Recently, the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by 25 basis points, but economists fear that the Fed is cutting in the dark because there have been no official jobs or inflation reports since August 2025.

Source: X

As government data systems go offline, investors are trading markets with no dependable economic data, which is making stock, commodity, bond, and cryptocurrency markets more volatile.

A Warning for the Future

The U.S. economy is entering dangerous territory, noting that China’s share of U.S. Treasury holdings has fallen to 8%, the lowest in 22 years.

“The shutdown must end,” the report urged, highlighting how political gridlock, rising debt, and data blackouts are shaking investor confidence.

Until a resolution is reached, this continues to cast a long shadow over its economy, workforce, and global reputation.