Today marks the fifteenth day of the federal government being shut down. The House has passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the federal government operating at current levels until November 21. The Senate has voted eight times on the House-passed measure, but has been unable to secure the required 60 votes to cut off debate and move to an up or down vote. Democrats are unwilling to vote on a clean CR that does not include any other policy measures. Specifically, via the CR, Democrats are seeking to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance premium subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Absent an extension, health care premiums would rise for many. Republicans want to negotiate ACA subsidy extensions separate from the CR and maintain that they will not engage on the issue until the federal government is reopened. At this point, it is unclear when the federal government will reopen. The Senate is expected to continue to vote on the House-passed CR and will begin holding votes this week on individual Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills in an attempt to reopen the federal government in a piecemeal fashion. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated he will keep the House in recess until the federal government reopens.
All agencies are operating under contingency plans approved by the Office of Management and Budget. Essential operations protecting life, safety, or property continue, but most administrative, regulatory, and grant-related activities are paused or slowed. Government estimates indicate between 550,000 and 750,000 employees (approximately 25 to 33 percent of the workforce) are furloughed during the lapse in appropriations. On October 10, the Administration announced a Reduction in Force (RIF) of thousands of employees across departments and agencies, including Commerce, Education, Energy, EPA, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Treasury. This action was immediately challenged in the courts.
Government Shutdown Impact on the Federal Trade Commission. At the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), staff of the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) are largely furloughed. BCP has suspended new investigations, sweeps, and complaint intake. Existing enforcement, litigation, or court-ordered matters may continue with a skeleton staff. The Funeral Rule remains in force, but enforcement and complaint intake are paused, as is the rulemaking process to update the Funeral Rule until funding resumes. The Consumer Sentinel Network (Sentinel) will remain available to law enforcement during the shutdown. However, no new complaint data will be logged and no new agencies will be approved for access until the government reopens. Once funding is approved, it is anticipated that audits and re-inspection activity will resume quickly, especially targeting prior warning-letter recipients or those with documented violations. As such, there should be strict adherence to the Funeral Rule and record retention in anticipation of audits.
Elsewhere, U.S. Department of Labor OSHA inspections are restricted to imminent danger cases. At the Veterans’ Administration, administrative functions are reduced, but burials continue.
