Current Situation

As of October 1, 2025, the federal government has officially entered a shutdown after funding lapsed. With no continuing resolution or full-year appropriations in place, many non-essential federal operations are now suspended or operating under severe constraints. No single consensus exists among political observers as to when the shutdown is likely to end.

Why Brewers Should Care

The brewing industry will see immediate disruptions to key regulatory services. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has scaled back to only essential staff. As a result, Certificate of Label Approvals (COLA), formula approvals, issuance of brewer’s notices, and other permitting functions are suspended until the agency is fully staffed again.

New or pending Small Business Administration (SBA) loan applications are stalled, as the SBA is largely non-operational during the shutdown. Payments on existing loans and federal excise tax collection will continue.

What Brewers Can Do

Be prepared for significant delays in approvals even after the shutdown ends. The TTB will likely face a deluge of pending applications once normal operations resume.

Stay in touch with agency contacts. Ask whether your projects or applications may be prioritized when staffing returns. Understanding which lines will be cleared first can help you plan.

Continue meeting statutory obligations. If you have excise tax payments or brewer’s reports due during the shutdown, those obligations still stand. The government’s temporary closure does not relieve you of any pending legal responsibilities.

Monitor legislative developments. Keep an eye on Congressional action and announcements about reopening or funding resolutions. The speed and terms of any deal will directly influence how quickly agencies like the TTB resume full operations.

Be ready to act fast when operations return. Have documentation and applications at the ready to resume activity quickly once the shutdown ends.

Stay Engaged

Shutdowns and other federal legislative developments directly affect breweries and the industry at large. To ensure your perspective is represented, consider attending the 2026 Hill Climb in Washington, D.C., this February. Participation provides an opportunity to engage with lawmakers on the issues most critical to your business and to the future of independent brewing.