A budget standoff in Washington is pushing the U.S. federal court system toward a financial squeeze, with paid operations at risk if lawmakers fail to break the deadlock before the end of the week.
Senior judicial officials have warned that without fresh funding, the courts could only keep normal, paid work running for a few days into February. The concern surfaced in an internal message circulated nationwide as political tensions flared over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, following the fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by immigration officers in Minnesota.
At the heart of the dispute is a bundled spending package that bankrolls several arms of the federal government, from defense and health to transportation, education, housing—and Homeland Security—through the fiscal year ending in September. The package has already passed the House of Representatives and includes a proposed increase for the judiciary, lifting its allocation to $9.2 billion, a year-on-year rise of 6.4%. It also sets aside additional funds to strengthen security at the Supreme Court.
Momentum in the Senate stalled over the weekend. Some lawmakers signaled they would withhold support for further Homeland Security funding unless changes are made, casting doubt over whether the combined bills can clear the chamber in time. That uncertainty has revived fears of another partial government shutdown, only months after the last one ended.
Under contingency plans outlined to judges, court buildings would not immediately go dark if funding lapses. Staff would still report to work at the start of February, with operations temporarily sustained through fees and existing balances. But those reserves are thin—enough to cover paid activity only through February 4.
The warning underscores how little cushion remains. During the previous shutdown, the judiciary managed to stretch limited resources for more than two weeks before scaling back operations and sending employees home. This time, the runway appears far shorter, leaving the courts unusually exposed to Capitol Hill’s latest budget battle.
