As the government shutdown continues to drag on, federal courts across the United States are preparing to curtail operations due to a significant lapse in funding. The Supreme Court has indicated that it will run out of funds over the weekend, with federal court systems nationwide subsequently expected to follow suit shortly thereafter. Employees may face furloughs and unpaid leave, impacting legal services and public defenders already struggling with resource shortages. Limited operations will remain in place for essential court functions, but widespread delays and disruptions in the judicial process are anticipated as Congress remains gridlocked and unable to resolve the funding issue.