Update (Sept. 25, 2024): Congress is expected to avoid a government shutdown. The House is planning to vote tonight on a short-term funding bill that will keep the government open until Dec. 20, 2024. The vote, which needs two-thirds of the chamber to pass, is anticipated to do so with bipartisan support. After the legislation passes the House, the Senate is expected to move quickly to ensure that the government remains funded past the Sept. 30 deadline. Both chambers will adjourn early and return to their home states and congressional districts until after the November election.

Like several times in the past couple of years, we are nearing the end of the federal government’s fiscal year (FY) and it is unlikely that Congress will meet the September 30 deadline to pass the full 2025 FY budget.

While it is highly likely that Congress will enact a continuing resolution (CR) providing an interim period in which the government will continue to function while the budget process moves forward, this is not a certainty, so the possibility of a government shutdown remains.

As we’ve warned in the past, any length of shutdown will impact “non-essential” operations at the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Based on past experience when shutdowns have actually occurred, the TTB will not review or approve labels, formulas, or brewers’ notices until the government reopens. And, for some time after reopening, longer approval times will result from the larger than normal backlog of applications.

Given the current uncertainty, breweries can prepare by submitting any upcoming approval requests or applications as soon as possible to avoid longer wait times on the other end of any shutdown. Additionally, if you are scheduled to pay federal excise taxes or to file a brewer’s report of operations during the shutdown you must still pay and file. The Brewers Association staff will update you on any major developments if/when they occur.