The economic impact started when the shutdown began and furloughed employees stopped their discretionary spending because they had no idea how long they would h

The economic impact started when the shutdown began and furloughed employees stopped their discretionary spending because they had no idea how long they would have to stretch out that last pay check and life savings. By the time the effects of the economic downturn are visible (such as airports cancelling flights because they have insufficient traffic control), you can expect that the damage done will take years to unwind. Just because you get back pay in a month or two doesn't mean you return to the previous level of discretionary spending immediately. You are now a consumer with lack of confidence in the economy. You don't know when the next Presidential tantrum is going to shut down the government. This will affect all the services that government employees used on a daily basis: cafes, restaurants, laundromats, house cleaning, gardeners, etc. Consumer confidence may not return till long after this president is ejected, assuming the USA actually has any more presidential elections and the Tumpists don't just take over the country.