October 2025 | Advocacy never slows down. This monthly brief is your window into what ILTA is tracking, influencing, and advancing, so you can stay informed on the issues shaping our industry.

Government Shutdown Enters Fourth Week

The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its fourth week, making it the second-longest in U.S. history, behind only the 2018–2019 shutdown.

At the heart of the stalemate is a dispute over how to fund the government.

Democrats are insisting on extending tax credits for 24 million Americans who purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and have refused to support any spending measure that excludes the provision. Republicans and the White House have signaled willingness to address the ACA tax credits but want the issue handled separately from the broader budget negotiations.

As the impasse continues, more than 750,000 federal workers remain furloughed, while essential personnel—including members of the military, law enforcement, border patrol, and air traffic control—continue to work without pay until the government reopens.

ILTA Launches Two New Working Groups

ILTA has introduced two new policy working groups this month—one focused on the Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Cybersecurity Final Rule and another addressing the industry’s transition away from PFAS foams.

The MTSA Cybersecurity working group, led by Lee Scott of Odfjell, will meet monthly and include training sessions to help members navigate and comply with the new requirements. The PFAS working group, chaired by Rich Steinberg of Kinder Morgan and Greg Jakubowski of Buckeye Partners, is forming now and will explore how companies are adapting systems, sourcing alternatives, and responding to evolving state and federal regulations.

Interested in joining? Contact James Privette at jprivette@ilta.org.

ILTA Launching New EGHSS Town Hall Series

ILTA’s Environment, Health & Safety, and Security (EGHSS) Subcommittees are introducing a new monthly town hall series, led by each subcommittee’s co-chairs. These sessions will provide members with an opportunity to discuss key regulatory issues, share experiences, and raise policy concerns impacting terminal operations.

The series kicked off on October 22 with the Environment Subcommittee and will continue on the second Wednesday of every month.

Interested in participating? Contact Jay Cruz at jcruz@ilta.org to join the series.