Overview
- Judiciary reserve funds were exhausted over the weekend, triggering nationwide shutdown procedures and scaling back to constitutionally required functions.
- Judges will continue their constitutional duties while most court staff are limited to excepted activities, with many employees furloughed or temporarily working without pay.
- The Supreme Court will hold oral arguments and issue decisions, but the building is closed to tourists until funding is restored.
- Each court will decide which cases proceed or are delayed, and the jury program remains funded separately so jurors should report as directed.
- The funding lapse is now the third longest, with no deal in sight as Democrats press for healthcare subsidy changes and Republicans call for reopening first, and another federal paycheck is at risk this week.