What a Government Shutdown Costs Taxpayers and the Economy
tags: “luggage scale” “travel tips” “airline baggage limits” categories: “Guides” How Much Could a Government Shutdown Cost the Economy and Taxpayers? Travel Impacts and the Case for a No-Battery Travel Scale Government shutdowns are often discussed as political brinkmanship, but their real-world costs are not abstract. The moment agencies slow down or stop, the economy absorbs a measurable hit—lost output, delayed services, strained workers, and disrupted plans. One widely cited analysis suggests a shutdown can shave roughly $7 billion off economic activity each week. For travelers and the businesses that serve them—airlines, hotels, tour operators, airports—the ripple effects are felt quickly and unevenly.