Government Shutdown Resources and Tools

In the face of federal funding gaps or government shutdown, law libraries can proactively support their organizations by ensuring that research workflows remain robust — even when federal agencies go into contingency mode. Use these LexisNexis tools and strategies to stay ahead:

1. Track Regulatory and Agency Activity

Use practical Guidance content — such as Practice Notes, Templates, regulatory Trackers, and Checklists — to monitor which agencies have guidance, rule-making, or funding at risk. Lexis Practical Guidance includes resources such as:

• Continuing Contract Performance during a Federal Government Shutdown Flowchart
• Federal Government Shutdown Impacts on Federal Employment Client Alert Digest
• Federal Government Contracting Resource Kit
• Continuing Resolutions and Lapses in Federal Appropriations
• Federal Government Contracting Key Legal Developments and Quick Links Tracker (2025)
• SEC Issues Guidance on Operations During the 2025 U.S. Government Shutdown: Client Alert Digest

Also see: National Archives, Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations; GAO, Shutdowns/ Lapses in Appropriations; and U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Procedures Relating to a Lapse in Appropriations.

2. Set Up Alerts

Create saved searches or alerts within Lexis or Lexis+ (and Newsdesk) for key terms like “lapse in appropriations,” “funding gap,” “stop‑work order,” or agency names (e.g., Department of Commerce furlough plan). This lets you push updates to your patrons as soon as new material appears. Such as:

• What Does the Government Shutdown Mean for Employers? Answers to Your Top Questions
• DOD Releases Contingency Plan For Gov't Shutdown
• IRS Shutdown Backlog May Trigger Collection, Refund Chaos
• How Gov't Shutdown Will Affect Federal Health Agencies
• United States: Government Shutdown Advisory: Summary Of Possible Lapse In Appropriations

3. Historical Contract and Grant Risk

Clients may need to understand how a shutdown affects contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements. Use Lexis to research prior shutdowns, case law, agency guidance, and treatises to provide practical checklists (see above). Many prior shutdown analyses include considerations such as delayed payments or stop‑work orders. See also Impacts of a Government Shutdown: Grants (K&L Gates, 2023); Government Shutdowns and Executive Branch Operations: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (Congress.gov); Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources (Congress.gov); Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview (Congress.gov)

If you have any questions or need assistance, contact your Knowledge & Research Consultant, your account team, or your law school Lexis representative!