The Supreme Court is projected to exhaust its funding on October 18, leading to a public closure of the building, though essential operations will continue. Federal courts are anticipated to run out of funds by October 20, prompting the continuation of essential activities, though staff may not be paid. Jury programs and the Public Access to Court Electronic Records will remain operational, and courts can use existing funds for limited additional work. Individual courts will decide case schedules, and the duration of the shutdown remains uncertain due to ongoing political disagreements.
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In a single day, three federal judges issued rulings against President Trump, halting key components of his agenda. A Washington judge blocked his executive order on voting changes, citing Congress’s authority over federal elections. Separately, judges in San Francisco and New Hampshire prevented the administration from withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities and schools with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, respectively, due to concerns over due process and unconstitutionally vague policies. These decisions follow Trump’s recent criticism of judges as engaging in “judicial insurrection.”
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House Speaker Mike Johnson’s suggestion to eliminate federal courts in response to unfavorable rulings against the Trump administration has drawn sharp criticism from House Democrats. Ranking Member Jamie Raskin and Vice Chair Ted Lieu denounced the proposal as an outrageous assault on judicial independence, warning that such actions would fundamentally alter the country’s democratic system. While Congress possesses the authority to restructure the judiciary, concerns remain about the potential for this to lead to significant court backlogs and the creation of an authoritarian regime. At least one Senate Republican also expressed reservations about the practicality of this approach.
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John Q. Hosedrinker