The budget stalemate that’s kept the government idle for two weeks is close to having a direct impact on federal courts in Kentucky and elsewhere.
Since the partial government shutdown began on October 1, the judiciary has been able to fund itself, but that money is expected to run out by this Friday. After that, all employees will have to report for duty to keep the courts running as normal.
There will be no furloughs because every employee is considered essential, according to Vanessa Armstrong, who is clerk of the federal court in the Western District of Kentucky in Louisville. She says current staffing levels are the same as they were in the 1990s.
Federal workers will get back pay once the government is fully funded again.
