Are government shutdowns a uniquely American problem?

The US federal government shut down this week after Congress failed to approve a new spending bill, forcing nonessential operations to close. It marks the first shutdown in nearly seven years, following the record 35-day closure that ended in January 2019. While this drastic measure occurred a total of 11 times in US history, the fact that most have taken place within the last three decades has raised questions about why the nation seems to so frequently face this outcome, particularly when compared to the rest of the world.

The standoff revolves around a Republican-backed temporary spending bill designed to fund government operations through November 21. Without it, the government cannot function, as explained in an ABC article.

The federal fiscal year traditionally begins on October 1, but this year Congress failed to pass a short-term funding measure to keep the government open. Both chambers—the Senate and the House of Representatives—currently have Republican majorities. 

The key point of contention is continued funding for the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which provides healthcare access for low-income Americans. Democrats have refused to support the bill unless Republicans reverse the cuts made under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” in July, which reduced Medicaid funding—a key pillar of Obamacare.

Democrats are also pushing to extend tax credits that lower the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans. These credits are set to expire later this year. Senate Democrats have reportedly proposed several alternatives, including a seven- to ten-day funding bill and other stopgap measures to keep the government running, according to Democratic sources within the Senate sharing this with Reuters. Republicans rejected those proposals, with President Donald Trump dismissing Democratic demands as “unserious” and cancelling negotiations.

Uniquely American problem?

The latest shutdown, analysts say, reflects the deep partisan gridlock paralyzing Congress and the wider federal government. The Foreign Policy publication described it as a symptom of the “bitter divide and dysfunction” that defines Washington politics.

While governments in other nations sometimes collapse over political disputes, coups, or public uprisings, shutdowns of this nature—where much of the government halts due to budget impasses—are largely unique to the United States. Andrew O’Donohue, a political scientist at Harvard University, told Foreign Policy that “US democracy routinely struggles to accomplish basic tasks of governance like averting government shutdowns.”

Examples abroad show a contrast in the design of the political systems. In 2017, Northern Ireland’s government collapsed after Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned, leading to a three-year suspension of the regional assembly. Yet essential services continued because the British government approved temporary budgets. 

Similarly, Belgium went 541 days without a fully functioning federal government between 2010 and 2011, but unlike in the US, the old budget stayed in effect until a new budget passed. 

Some experts argue that the US could avoid shutdowns by adopting an automatic continuing resolution, a system used in several European countries to extend current budgets if new ones are not passed. A similar measure was partially used in 2013, when President Barack Obama enacted one to ensure military personnel were paid during a shutdown.

In 2021, Democratic Senator Mark Warner proposed a law known as the Stop STUPIDITY Act, which would have automatically continued government funding in the event of a budget lapse, but the bill failed to pass.

What happens during a US government shutdown

A government shutdown occurs when funding lapses force nonessential federal agencies to cease operations. The last shutdown occurred during Trump’s first term, while in 2023 President Joe Biden narrowly avoided one by approving a temporary 45-day extension of government funding.

Under US law, federal agencies must “furlough” their “non-excepted” employees—those whose duties are not deemed essential to protecting “life and property.” These workers are temporarily laid off but receive back pay once operations resume, as mandated by a 2019 law. “Excepted employees,” such as those in the military, law enforcement, and air traffic control, continue working without pay until the shutdown ends.

Previous shutdowns have disrupted the workflow at national parks, museums, research projects, IRS services, and certain benefit processing. However, critical operations—including the armed forces, FBI, CIA, air traffic controllers, and programs funded through mandatory spending like Social Security and Medicare—continue. The US Postal Service also remains operational because it is self-funded.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, a future shutdown in fiscal year 2026 could furlough roughly 750,000 federal employees daily, resulting in lost pay totalling around $400 million each day. They warn that the exact number of furloughed workers could change over time because some agencies might increase layoffs the longer a shutdown continues, while others could bring some employees back.

By Nazrin Sadigova