US Shutdown Buys Apple Time in DOJ Antitrust Fight
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Apple is getting a breather from the Department of Justice’s antitrust suit after the US District Court for the District of New Jersey confirmed that discovery is on hold following the recent US government shutdown.
The government was shut down on October 1, pausing most federal operations until Congress reaches a funding agreement. Unfortunately, this means that while the two sides of the aisle fight over who’s to blame for the impasse, the business of government remains on hold.
The pause in government operations has proven beneficial for Apple in its legal battle with the DOJ.
On October 2, the DOJ submitted a request to the New Jersey court to stay its discovery in the Apple case over its ongoing antitrust suit against the company. The filing stated that the request is “due to the lapse of Congressional appropriations” that has resulted in the temporary layoffs of DOJ attorneys.
As you might imagine, Apple did not object to the stay request.
The court responded by agreeing to the stay, stating that any pending motions or deadlines would be “administratively terminated” until congressional funding is restored and DOJ attorneys are once again able to resume their litigation.
The court order also specified that the case is not dismissed, merely halted, and it will be reinstated to the court’s docket once government lawyers submit a request to lift the stay.
That means Apple gets a break on multiple fronts: with discovery paused, it won’t have to fulfill any demands or orders related to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit stems from the DOJ’s allegations that Apple has engaged in monopolistic practices in several aspects of its business, including the App Store, messaging apps, third-party smartwatch support, and Apple Pay. According to a September 2025 filing by the DOJ, Apple has been slowing the proceedings by denying requests for data — including HR-related data, specific business data, and additional document custodians — frequently citing privacy and trade-secret concerns to justify the delays.
The filing accuses Apple of pretending not to understand everyday business terms, such as “installed base of users” and “customer lifetime value,” even though, according to the DOJ, those phrases are commonly used within the company. Prosecutors say Apple’s objections have slowed the process and limited what information it’s willing to hand over.
Government lawyers asked Judge Wettre to step in and decide how the discovery disputes should be handled, warning that unresolved issues could delay the schedule even further.
DOJ lawyers told the court that other companies, such as Google, haven’t had any issues with antitrust case requests, while Apple uses delaying tactics to avoid turning over data. The DOJ has also requested that Apple be required to turn over global data, not just US-centric data. Apple had refused to do so.
For now, the shutdown gives Apple a brief reprieve from discovery — but the pause may be short-lived. Once Congress resolves its funding impasse — which could happen in the blink of an eye — the DOJ’s antitrust machine will almost certainly start rolling again.
