Today marks the 35th day of the partial federal government shutdown that began on Dec. 21, 2018, when a continuing resolution funding several federal agencies expired, making it the longest federal government shutdown in history. Little progress has been made on passing a fiscal 2019 spending bill or continuing resolution that would reopen the government and debate over border wall funding continues. The president stated that he will veto any spending bills that are passed without an increase in border security funding. The now Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed several spending bills that do not include border wall funding, which Republican Senate leaders refuse to consider because of the president’s veto threats. Likewise, the Senate is considering funding bills that will not receive consideration in the House of Representatives.
Formation of committees and subcommittees for the 116th Congress continue. Announcements of which members will serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees, which handle the majority of commercial motor vehicle issues, have been made.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is among the federal agencies whose funding expired on Dec. 21, 2018. As long as the shutdown does not continue for an extended period of time, we do not anticipate a large impact on commercial motor vehicle enforcement at DOT. For more information on how the shutdown will impact DOT, review U.S. DOT’s shutdown plan.