As of October 1, 2025, federal funding lapsed for numerous U.S. government agencies, including those engaged in sanctions, export control, and customs compliance and enforcement. Due to the lack of funding, export licensing functions have been significantly curtailed. Below is an overview of the status of key operations at OFAC, DDTC, BIS, and CBP.
Federal Government Shutdown
Trade-Related Agencies Reopen, and Many Toll Deadlines from Government Shutdown
With the 35-day partial federal government shutdown ending on January 26, 2019, the U.S. government’s trade-oriented agencies have reopened and are beginning to work through massive backlogs of work as personnel resume full-time operations. What follows is a listing of the current operational status of many of these agencies:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)…
USTR to Begin Furloughing Staff
Three weeks after the partial federal government shutdown began and shuttered most of the trade-related government agencies in Washington, D.C. (see Trump and Trade Update dated December 26, 2018), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) – which had remained fully operational – has indicated that it will begin to furlough staff on…
U.S. Government Shutdown Affects Operations of Most Trade-Related Agencies
With the partial federal government shutdown beginning at 12:01 a.m. on December 22, 2018, most of the U.S. government’s trade-oriented agencies have either shut down or had their operations severely restricted. What follows is a listing of the current operational status of many of these agencies:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
In a conference…