US government shutdown pauses major antitrust lawsuits against Amazon and Apple

Antitrust lawsuits in the US against tech giants Amazon and Apple have been paused due to the government shutdown.

The lawsuits against the four major tech giants—Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon—are among the most closely watched cases in Washington and the business world.

Additionally, these cases are among the most politically sensitive, as the companies’ CEOs have sought to build closer relationships with Donald Trump and the White House.

The cases against Google and Meta are proceeding during the federal government shutdown. Both companies are near a resolution, with one judge set to finalize a decision in one of Google’s cases and another expected to rule on Meta soon.

On the other hand, the lawsuits that threaten to break up Amazon and Apple were suspended last week. Amazon’s trial will not be heard until February 2027, and Apple’s discovery and deposition processes will continue until January 2027.

The judges in both cases approved the government’s request to suspend the proceedings until federal funding is restored.

How much the shutdown will affect the cases will likely depend on how long the government remains closed. A work stoppage of a few days or weeks is unlikely to cause a major disruption, but a longer delay could postpone the trial dates scheduled for 2027.

Judges also have broad discretion on whether to suspend a case. Even during a shutdown, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are still obligated to proceed with a case if ordered by the court.

Both the Google and Meta cases have reached their final stages. In one of the lawsuits concerning Google’s search engine empire, the government requested a suspension until it reopens.

However, Washington D.C. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled for the case to continue, noting that antitrust cases proceeded during the 2019 shutdown.

Mehta will hold a hearing on October 8 to finalize a damages ruling in which he declined to break up Google for monopolizing the online search market.

In the DOJ’s other case against Google, which targets the company’s monopoly in the online advertising market, the government did not request a suspension, but the department’s lawyers asked for a stay in court this week and were denied. That case has been in a settlement hearing since last week.

The FTC did not request to suspend its case against Meta’s acquisition of Instagram. That case is awaiting a judge’s decision after going to trial this spring.

In Washington state, District Judge John Chun granted the FTC’s request to suspend the trial in its case against Amazon. This lawsuit concerns allegations that the company prioritizes its own products in its online store. Chun ruled that ongoing depositions may continue.

A day later, District Judge Leda Dunn Wettre approved a similar request from the Department of Justice in New Jersey in a case concerning Apple’s monopoly in the smartphone market.

The federal judiciary announced that courts will remain open until at least October 17, using court fee balances and other funds not affected by the appropriations lapse. The judiciary remained operational throughout the entire five-week shutdown in 2018.

The FTC and DOJ are continuing to accept premerger notification filings during the current shutdown.