The potential shutdown of the U.S. federal government threatens to furlough or terminate approximately 41% of the Department of Health and Human Services staff, compounding the impact of prior workforce reductions. Agencies like the FDA have activated contingency plans to maintain critical functions during this uncertainty. Simultaneously, the pharmaceutical sector faces shifting drug pricing policies, including new direct-to-patient platforms and pricing agreements, intensifying an already complex regulatory and political environment. These parallel developments could influence drug approvals, clinical research, and market access in the biotech industry.