If the US government fails to enact appropriations to fund federal operations by September 30, 2023, the resulting government shutdown would have far-reaching implications for over 400 federal agencies, including those tasked with merger enforcement: the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”). Both the FTC and DOJ have issued contingency plans for a potential shutdown (see here). The implications are summarized below.
