Why America’s ‘Unusual’ Democracy Leads to Shutdowns

Why America’s ‘Unusual’ Democracy Leads to Shutdowns

Other countries don’t have government shutdowns like the U.S.

The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed to visitors during the federal government shutdown in Washington. October 1, 2025, 7:12 PM Comment icon View Comments ( )

The United States government shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement to extend federal funding. This marks the 15th government shutdown in the United States since 1980, and the fourth under U.S. President Donald Trump—who was also in office during the longest shutdown in the country’s history, which began in 2018 and lasted 35 days.

The latest shutdown is largely a product of the bitter partisan divide and dysfunction consuming Congress, Washi