Part 5/12:
Children's access to Head Start programs is at risk for thousands, and air travel has been slowed due to unpaid air traffic controllers calling in sick. Vice President Kamala Harris warned of potential holiday chaos amid these operational disruptions. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain furloughed or unpaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates an $18 billion hit to US economic output if the shutdown persists. Blame squabbles continue, with Republicans seeking short-term funding without healthcare subsidies and Democrats insisting on their renewal. Business leaders and unions are pleading for swift resolution, warning of lasting economic damage—some of which may be irreversible, according to the US Chamber of Commerce.