WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29. 2025
It’s the Final Countdown
State of Play:
The House is in recess while the Senate is back in Washington ahead of a shutdown showdown.
Congress has until tomorrow at midnight to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open.
Driving the News:
The general thinking right now is that a shutdown is inevitable. Senate Democrats are pushing for a continuation of ACA insurance subsidies, while Senate Majority Leader Thune has argued for a clean CR with negotiations on the subsidies to follow later.
Today’s meeting at the White House with President Trump and the four congressional leaders may give us some insight into Tuesday’s shutdown odds. President Trump and top leaders could make agreements to prevent a lapse in federal funding, but both sides are bracing for closures and political fallout.
Three Things to Watch in Tech:
1. CISA’s Parallel Shutdown: Tuesday’s possible shutdown could have sweeping impacts to tech, especially given other parallel deadlines for major tech and cybersecurity priorities.
Lawmakers have failed to reauthorize the 2015 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) so far, which is also set to expire on Tuesday night. CISA’s renewal hit a snafu after HSGAC Chair Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked a clean 10-year reauthorization backed by Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI).
The Trump Administration’s liability protections under the current law would lapse, as well as industry sharing of cyber-threat data with the government.
The House-passed CR includes language to extend CISA for an additional seven weeks, buying more time for a reauthorization compromise. But the program is set to expire in the event of a shutdown.
2. Senate Finance Tees Up Hearing on Crypto Taxes: The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday on taxing digital assets, signaling rising priority post-passage of a major domestic policy bill.
Members will hear from industry stakeholders on how best to implement a new crypto tax structure, and possible complications that could come along with a new federal framework.
Lawmakers have long struggled to craft clear rules for regulating the crypto industry, with the IRS urging for congressional help given that crypto traders face fewer tax requirements than holders of traditional assets.
There are parallel efforts in the House to address a crypto tax framework, including Rep. Max Miller’s outline issued in July, as well as White House recommendations.
3. What’s in President Trump’s TikTok Deal: President Trump signed an executive order clearing a proposal to keep TikTok operating in the US. Under the proposal, the sale would maintain a majority-American ownership. Companies including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX would control about 45 percent, with Oracle overseeing security and providing cloud services, while ByteDance investors and new holders would own roughly 35 percent.
Lawmakers are scrutinizing compliance with last year’s law requiring an end to Chinese control and banning algorithm “cooperation,” as the plan envisions ByteDance licensing the algorithm for US owners to copy and retrain. Committee chairs are seeking briefings and hinting at future hearings.
The order extends ByteDance’s divestment timeline and bars DOJ enforcement of the underlying national-security law until December 16, even as ByteDance has not publicly acknowledged a deal. President Trump has also assured that China will approve of the deal.
What's Happening This Week
Tech Hearings
The Senate Committee on Finance holds a hearing on “Examining the Taxation of Digital Assets” - Wednesday, October 1 at 10:00 AM EST
Tech Events
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers - TechExpo 25 - Monday, September 29 to Wednesday, October 1
Federal Communications Commission - Open Meeting - Tuesday, September 30 at 10:30 AM EST
POLITICO - Policy Outlook: Cybersecurity - Wednesday, October 1 at 8:00 AM EST
Meme of the week is BACK for the shutdown countdown…
