Government Shutdown Temporarily Halts Antitrust Cases Against Amazon and Apple While Google and Meta Continue

The federal government shutdown has temporarily paused some of the United States’ most high-profile antitrust cases against Big Tech companies. Specifically, cases involving Amazon and Apple have been put on hold until federal funding is restored. Amazon’s trial, scheduled for February 2027, and Apple’s ongoing discovery and depositions, set to continue through January 2027, have been paused with judges approving the government’s request. Meanwhile, antitrust cases against Google and Meta are moving forward despite the shutdown. Judges overseeing these cases have cited past precedents and the advanced stage of proceedings as reasons to continue. Google faces two major antitrust lawsuits—one regarding its search engine dominance and another concerning online advertising monopolies—both approaching final remedies decisions. Meta’s FTC case related to its Instagram acquisition is also awaiting a judge’s decision. Experts note that judges consider fairness and the stage of litigation when deciding whether to pause proceedings. A short shutdown may have minimal impact, but longer funding gaps could delay trials scheduled in 2027. The FTC and DOJ continue to accept pre-merger notifications during the shutdown, demonstrating selective continuation of regulatory functions. The outcome highlights the ongoing political and legal scrutiny of major tech firms, especially as they maintain close ties with the current administration.