Sticky: Impact of Government Shutdown on Amateur Radio licensing in USA

This is a quick summary of the state of FCC licensing during the shutdown.

1. Users are not able to apply for a FRN during the shutdown.
2. Candidates are still able to test for their amateur license, and some VECs are accepting candidates without FRNs. However, those tests will not be filed with the FCC until after they reopen. Those VECs accepting examinees without FRNs plan to accept user-supplied FRNs after the FCC reopens.
3. New amateurs that pass a licensing exam will have to wait until the FCC reopens for a callsign to be issued and for them to transmit on the air.
4. Amateur licensees that pass an upgrade exam are able to act with their upgraded license's privileges using the /AG or /AE suffix respectively. They will be able to do this for the duration of the shutdown.
5. FCC ULS is not accessible via the website, but the database as of October 1, 2025 is still available for download.
6. Vanity callsign applications are not being accepted or processed during the shutdown. A large number of short callsigns are expected to all become available upon reopening of the FCC.

Please comment if there is any other major topics not covered.

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Good luck to all federal workers that have not been paid.