While “mission-critical activities” of the FDA, USDA, and CDC are continuing during the federal government shutdown, with core food safety operations considered essential to protect public health, other support activities have been halted with close to half of FDA and USDA employees furloughed and nearly two-thirds of CDC.
Where does this leave the food industry?
- FDA. While import, outbreak/recall investigations, and for-cause inspections will continue, routine inspections (including those previously scheduled) are halted. Additionally, delays can be expected, especially in import transactions, as most CBP personnel are considered essential, but a lack of support staff and reductions in other federal agencies can cause backlogs.
- USDA. With the department’s new fiscal year set to begin October 1, USDA will be operating with limited funding, and programs such as farm loan processing, disaster aid, and other farmer-facing programs are on hold. However, plant inspections, outbreak and recall investigations, lab work required for public health concerns and threats, and emergency preparedness continue.
- CDC. The Center is maintaining only minimal capacity to respond to an urgent disease threat or other critical need in food safety, high-consequence pathogens, and public health areas. Although CDC will continue to monitor for disease outbreaks, it is not able to communicate these to the public, respond to questions, investigate risk factors, analyze surveillance data, or provide guidance to state and local health departments.
- TSA. If your team is traveling, most TSA personnel are considered essential, so the agency will continue to operate in force. However, there are likely to be some delays.
- GAO. With the vast majority of personnel furloughed, operations have been shut down, halting the development and publication of any reports. Similarly the searchable site which houses all public reports from federal Offices of Inspector General that are members of the Council of the Inspectors (oversight.gov) has been shuttered with the site blank except for the note of its unavailability.
- All government agencies. Websites will not be updated, policy initiatives are stalled, health and safety communications are not issued, and state-run/federally funded programs may run out of money. Additionally, government employees, whether working or furloughed, are not paid. Wages are paid retroactively after the shutdown for those who worked, but furloughed workers are essentially on unpaid leave.
While some halted operations may seem to be less significant, such as website updates, the amount of information communicated and regularly updated through these sites is significant. Take USDA as an example: On September 20, USDA’s Lapse of Funding Plan included a statement that furloughed employees are expected to monitor the status of the Department’s operations on the OPM operating status website to determine when to come back to work. However, the link provided generates a “404 Page Not Found,” and with websites not being updated, this is unlikely to be fixed at a time it is most needed.
What is also of concern is the notice from the Office of Management and Budget directing agencies to consider Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees in programs, projects, or activities for which discretionary funding lapsed on October 1, 2025; no other source of funding is available; and it is not consistent with the President’s priorities. The RIFs would be in addition to the furloughs, potentially further limiting already under-resourced agencies long-term, particularly as the memo also advises agencies to revise their RIFs only “as needed to retain the minimal number of employees necessary to carry out statutory functions” once FY 2026 appropriations are enacted.
Historically, most U.S. government shutdowns have lasted only a few days, though longer is not unprecedented, with the longest shutdown lasting 35 days during Trump’s previous administration. To resolve a government shutdown, Congress must agree on a short-term funding or a full-year appropriations package. The current shutdown has been at an impasse primarily due to Republican and Democrat disagreement over enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
TAG’s experience to date with the shutdown is that FDA is continuing to issue important communications around WGS findings and in relation to import alerts and detention of products at ports of entry. Likewise, we anticipate the FDA will continue to be focused on anything that is considered a public health threat.
Although TAG cannot fulfill government services, we can provide assistance with food safety issues you may be having or questions you would typically address to FDA, USDA, CDC, or another government entity. To ensure your foods continue to be safe during the shutdown – and at any time, give TAG a call today!
