Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has issued a stark warning, stating that a potential government shutdown in the United States could seriously jeopardize the nation’s economic advancement.

With Congress yet to pass a budget resolution, the looming threat of a shutdown has cast a shadow over the country’s fiscal stability.

Yellen emphasized that a government shutdown would disrupt critical federal functions, impacting not only government employees but also various sectors of the economy. The potential consequences include delayed payments to federal workers, disrupted public services, and a significant hindrance to economic growth.

In her statement, Yellen pointed out that the ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is already fragile, and a shutdown would add unnecessary uncertainty and risk to an already challenging situation. Financial markets are likely to react negatively to such an event, potentially leading to increased volatility and decreased investor confidence.

Furthermore, Yellen stressed the importance of Congress taking immediate action to raise the debt ceiling. Failure to do so, she warned, could result in a catastrophic default on U.S. government debt, with severe repercussions for the global economy.