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Government closures are a repeat element in American political life – but this one feels especially difficult to resolve due to shifting political forces along with deep-seated animosity between both major parties.

Certain federal operations are temporarily suspended, with approximately 750,000 people likely to be placed on furlough without pay since both political parties can't agree regarding budget legislation.

Legislative attempts to resolve the deadlock have repeatedly failed, and it is hard to see a clear resolution path this time as both parties – as well as the President – perceive advantages in digging in.

These are the four ways in which things feel different currently.

1. For Democrats, the focus is on Trump – beyond healthcare issues

Democratic supporters has been demanding over recent periods that their party more forcefully fights the current presidency. Well now Democratic leaders has a chance to show their responsiveness.

Earlier this year, the Senate's top Democrat faced strong criticism for helping pass a Republican spending bill and averting a government closure early this year. Now he's digging in.

This is a chance for the Democratic party to show they can take back some control from a presidency pursuing its agenda assertively with determined action.

Refusing to back the GOP budget proposal comes with political risk that the wider public will grow frustrated with prolonged negotiations and consequences begin to mount.

The Democrats are using the budget standoff to highlight concerns about expiring health insurance subsidies and GOP-backed government healthcare cuts affecting low-income populations, both facing public opposition.

They are also trying to restrict the President's use of his executive powers to rescind or withhold money authorized legislatively, which he has done with foreign aid and various federal programs.

Second, For Republicans, it's an opportunity

The President along with a senior aide have openly indicated of the fact that they smell a chance to advance further the cutbacks in government employment implemented during the current presidential term to date.

The President himself stated recently that the shutdown provided him with a "unique chance", and that he would look to reduce funding for "opposition-supported departments".

The White House said it would be left with the "unenviable task" involving significant workforce reductions to keep essential government services operating should the impasse persist. An administration spokesperson said this was just "budgetary responsibility".

The extent of possible job cuts is still uncertain, but the White House have been consulting with the Office of Management and Budget, the budgeting office, which is headed by the key official.

The administration's financial chief has already announced the halting of government financial support for regions governed by the opposition party, including New York City and Chicago.

3. There's little trust on either side

While previous shutdowns have been characterised by extended negotiations between the two parties aimed at restoring federal operations, there appears to be minimal cooperative willingness for compromise presently.

Instead, there is rancour. Political tensions continued over the weekend, as both sides blaming each other for causing the impasse.

House Speaker a Republican, charged opposition members of not being serious about negotiating, and holding out over a deal "for electoral protection".

Meanwhile, the opposition's chief made similar charges at the other side, saying that a majority party commitment to discuss healthcare subsidies after operations resume cannot be trusted.

The President himself has escalated tensions through sharing a computer-created controversial depiction of the Senate leader and the top Democrat opposition figure, in which the legislator is depicted with a large Mexican-style sombrero and a moustache.

The affected legislator with party colleagues called this racist, which was denied by the administration's second-in-command.

4. The US economy is fragile

Analysts expect approximately two-fifths of the federal workforce – over 800,000 workers – to face furlough as a result of the shutdown.

This will reduce consumer expenditure – and also have wider ramifications, as environmental permitting, delayed intellectual property processing, interrupted vendor payments along with various forms of government activity tied to business comes to a halt.

The closure additionally introduces new uncertainty into an economy currently experiencing disruption by changes ranging from tariffs, previous budget reductions, enforcement actions and artificial intelligence.

Economic forecasters project that it could shave approximately 0.2% off US economic growth for each week it lasts.

However, economic activity generally rebounds most of that lost activity after a shutdown ends, similar to recovery patterns caused by a natural disaster.

That could be one reason why financial markets have shown limited reaction to the ongoing impasse.

Conversely, experts indicate should administration officials implement proposed significant workforce reductions, economic harm might become extended in duration.