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Government closures are a repeat element of US politics – but this one feels especially difficult to resolve because of political dynamics along with deep-seated animosity between both major parties.

Some government services are temporarily suspended, and about 750,000 people are expected to be put on furlough without pay since both political parties can't agree on a spending bill.

Legislative attempts to resolve the impasse have repeatedly failed, with little visibility on a clear resolution path this time because both parties – including the President – can see some merit in digging in.

Here are several key factors that make things feel different currently.

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

The Democratic base has been demanding over recent periods for their representatives more forcefully fights the current presidency. Well now Democratic leaders has a chance to show they have listened.

Earlier this year, Senate leader was fiercely criticised for helping pass a Republican spending bill and averting a government closure in the spring. This time he's digging in.

This presents an opportunity for the Democratic party to show their ability to reclaim certain authority from an administration pursuing its agenda assertively with determined action.

Opposing the Republican spending plan carries electoral dangers as citizens generally will grow frustrated as the dispute drags on and consequences begin to mount.

The Democrats are leveraging the shutdown fight to put a spotlight on expiring health insurance subsidies together with Republican-approved 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 cancel or delay funding authorized legislatively, which he has done in international assistance and other programmes.

2. For Republicans, they see potential

The President and one of his key officials have made little secret of the fact that they perceive an opening to make more of reductions to the federal workforce implemented during in the Republican's second presidency to date.

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

The White House stated they would face a "challenging responsibility" involving significant workforce reductions to keep essential government services operating if the shutdown continued. The Press Secretary described this as "budgetary responsibility".

The extent of possible job cuts remains unclear, but the White House has been in discussions with federal budget authorities, the budgeting office, under the leadership of the key official.

The administration's financial chief has previously declared the halting of government financial support for regions governed by the opposition party, such as NYC and Illinois' largest city.

Third, Trust Is Lacking between both parties

Whereas past government closures have been characterised by late-night talks between the two parties in an effort to get government services running again, there appears to be little of the same spirit for compromise presently.

Conversely, animosity prevails. Political tensions continued over the weekend, as both sides exchanging accusations regarding the deadlock's origin.

House Speaker a Republican, charged opposition members with insufficient commitment toward resolution, and holding out during discussions "for electoral protection".

Simultaneously, the opposition's chief levelled the same accusation against their counterparts, stating how a majority party commitment to discuss healthcare subsidies once the government reopens can not be taken seriously.

The administration leader personally has escalated tensions through sharing a computer-created controversial depiction featuring the opposition leader and the top Democrat in the House, in which the representative appears wearing a large Mexican-style sombrero and facial hair.

The representative with party colleagues denounced this as discriminatory, a characterization rejected by the administration's second-in-command.

4. The US economy faces vulnerability

Experts project about 40% of government employees – over 800,000 workers – to be put on unpaid leave as a result of the government closure.

This will reduce consumer expenditure – with broader economic consequences, including halted environmental approvals, delayed intellectual property processing, interrupted vendor payments and other kinds of federal operations connected to commercial interests cease functioning.

A shutdown also injects new uncertainty within economic systems currently experiencing disruption by changes ranging from trade measures, earlier cuts to government spending, immigration raids and artificial intelligence.

Economic forecasters project potential reduction of as much as 0.2 percentage points from national economic expansion for each week it lasts.

However, economic activity generally rebounds the majority of interrupted operations following resolution, as it would after disruption after major environmental events.

This might explain partially why the stock market have shown limited reaction to the ongoing impasse.

On the other hand, experts indicate that if the President carries out his threat of mass firings, the damage could be extended in duration.