While many see the U.S. government shutdown as administrative and economic paralysis, tech giants Apple and Amazon have emerged as unexpected winners. The antitrust lawsuits filed against them have been frozen—unlike Google and Meta, which continue to face ongoing legal battles.
The partial shutdown of federal government activities has led to a temporary freeze on lawsuits against Apple and Amazon related to antitrust violations. The Department of Justice accuses Amazon of favoring its own products on its e-commerce platform, while Apple faces claims of restricting competition through its tightly controlled ecosystem.
These cases were expected to stretch until 2027, but judges agreed to postpone proceedings until federal funding resumes.
By contrast, Judge Amit Mehta rejected the government’s request to freeze the antitrust trial against Google over its search engine practices, stressing the importance of concluding the case before the tech landscape shifts further. Google stands accused of striking exclusive agreements that force partners to rely on its search engine, in addition to paying billions to Apple and Samsung to remain the default search option on their devices.
Similarly, the court refused to pause another lawsuit over Google’s dominance in digital advertising, asserting that judges have the authority to continue trials despite the shutdown.
The federal judiciary announced it can keep operating at least until October 17, relying on case fees and non-governmental funding, citing its ability to function during the five-week shutdown in 2018.
Legal experts note that judges are striving for a fair balance between parties, as requiring government attorneys to work without pay is considered “unjust,” according to Rebecca Allensworth, a law professor at Vanderbilt University.
