U.S. Federal Courts to Furlough Staff as Shutdown Drains Treasury Funds

Summary: The U.S. federal judiciary is preparing to furlough nonessential court staff due to depletion of funds as the government shutdown continues.
Judges and constitutionally protected functions will continue, but many administrative roles (clerks, probation officers) will stop being paid.
Jury compensation may persist temporarily, but other related legal support services could be delayed or suspended.
Public defenders and attorneys relying on federal funding face payment disruptions.
Experts warn of case backlog, delayed rulings, and strain on the justice system if the shutdown endures.

Detailed Report: In a rare and significant move, the U.S. federal court system will begin issuing furlough notices to many nonessential staff starting Monday, as its funding reserves exhaust amid the continuing government shutdown. While judges and core judicial operations are protected by constitutional mandate and will remain active, staffers such as clerical personnel, probation officers, and various support roles will be sent home without pay.

Some court functions, like jury disbursements, may carry on for the moment, but key administrative and case-processing services are already facing disruptions. Public defenders and private attorneys working under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) are reporting delays or halts in compensation, threatening access to legal representation for those unable to afford their own counsel.

Judges and court officials have expressed concern about mounting backlogs, with cases waiting longer for hearings or rulings. Legal analysts warn that prolonged inflexibility in staffing will impair the legal system’s ability to operate effectively across the country.

The decision comes as Congress remains deadlocked over federal funding, leaving the judiciary — which has tried to use non‑congressional funds to stay afloat — with no further cushion. The move to furlough staff underlines how deeply the shutdown is reaching across governmental branches, beyond just executive agencies.

If funding is not restored soon, the delays and resource constraints could ripple across the judicial process, jeopardizing timely rulings, fairness in trials, and public trust in court access.