Federal Courts Begin Furloughs as Shutdown Drains Judiciary Budget

The October 1 fiscal year start without enacted appropriations forced the judiciary to rely on carryover balances and fee collections. Court filing fees and other revenue sources sustained operations through October 17, but proved insufficient beyond that point—a significantly shorter runway than during the 2018-2019 government shutdown when judiciary operations continued for weeks longer.

Conrad’s memorandum reflects the urgency facing the third branch of government as legislative gridlock threatens core judicial functions. Federal courts handle approximately 400,000 cases annually, including criminal prosecutions, immigration matters, bankruptcy proceedings, and civil disputes involving billions of dollars in claims.

What’s Next

The judiciary awaits congressional action to enact FY 2026 appropriations or a continuing resolution that would restore operational funding. No timeline exists for when Congress might pass funding legislation or when the President might sign it into law.

If the shutdown extends beyond several weeks, even excepted activities could face disruptions as administrative overhead and support functions deteriorate. Court security, building maintenance, and IT systems require ongoing funding that may prove difficult to classify as excepted under Anti-Deficiency Act standards.