US businesses call on Congress to urgently reopen federal government

Groups cite unrecoverable losses and far-reaching consequences.

Businesses in the US are seeking the urgent reopening of the government via a clean continuing resolution by Congress. Citing far-reaching consequences and unrecoverable losses, various business groups and associations want an immediate end to the federal government shutdown that began on 1 October 2025.

"Government shutdowns impose real, escalating costs," the US Chamber of Commerce said in a joint statement with the likes of Airlines for America, American Bankers Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Associated General Contractors of America, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, and Financial Services Forum, Information Technology Industry Council, and National Association of Home Builders.

Also issued by the National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of Realtors, National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Retail Federation, and US Travel Association, the statement went on to read: "Public estimates of the current funding lapse suggest $10b-$15b per week in lost output and economic activity.

"The longer the shutdown persists, the larger and more durable the economic damage becomes – and some of it could never be recovered."

Meanwhile the National Association of Manufacturers wrote Congress, saying: "The consequences of a government shutdown extend far beyond the halls of federal office buildings. It slows down the critical safety approvals of products on which families depend, especially lifesaving healthcare products.

"Inspections of new facilities, including manufacturing facilities and power plants, grind to a halt – meaning newly completed factories sit idle and valuable sources of power cannot be added to the grid. Permitting becomes next to impossible, and housing projects, retail construction, data centres, manufacturing production lines, infrastructure projects, and other job-creating investments cannot break ground."

The letter to Congress was also supported by the following:

Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Arizona Manufacturers Council
Arkansas State Chamber/AIA
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Connecticut Business & Industry Association
Associated Industries of Florida
Georgia Association of Manufacturers
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry
Illinois Manufacturers' Association
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
Michigan Manufacturers Association
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi Manufacturers Association
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Nevada Manufacturers Association
New Jersey Business and Industry Association
New Mexico Business Coalition
The Business Council of New York State
Greater North Dakota Chamber
Ohio Manufacturers' Association
Oregon Business & Industry
Rhode Island Manufacturers Association
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Texas Association of Business
Utah Manufacturers Association
Association of Washington Business
West Virginia Manufacturers Association
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

They stated: "The federal government should be doing everything in its power to support manufacturers' ability to invest, create jobs, and grow. That requires reopening the government without further delay, and a clean continuing resolution is the swiftest and most effective way to achieve that."