It was a time where the Courts were able to move some money around (according to their internal rules). If my memory serves, many court staff were furloughed, but some staff (specifically Article III Judges and their staff) were classified 'excepted' - depending on the activity and type of duties they had. It could have been called a 'skeleton krew'. It had to have something to do directly with Article III cases. I know that IT staff remained available.

This time, it seems to be more dire and lasting longer. After talking to some of my previous colleagues, even the 'excepted' employees are on Furlough, with the minimum exception that they can check email twice a day (and respond if it was an Article III task for a judge - even though it is understood that it is without pay).

Previously, all furloughed court employees did get back pay. I'm fairly sure they will again because the Federal Judiciary is not managed directly by OPM, and there is actually a law that says they must be paid. I think that TSF and Voght are going to try to pick and choose who in the Fed Gov gets paid, but I don't think they have jurisdiction over the Judiciary.

I don't think the gov shutdown was leverage when they did the BigBlowjobBill because they presented it using a process (Budget Reconcillation) that only required a majority vote, and they passed it without the need for Democratic votes.

I must be misremembering something, because I remember Schumer capitulating to something back then?

CR = A continuing resolution (CR) funding government at previous year levels.

But I think you are right. This was March (14-15) 2025 where it was passed in house and senate and signed into law a CR to take it through the fiscal year (which ends in Sept? Oct?), which is why we are here.

Back in March:

in March. The big ugly bill was rammed through in July.


Trump's approval rating were still decent in March, as opposed to the sewer they are in NOW...

Although they took a lot of heat for it, in retrospect, the Senate Democrats
who voted to NOT shut the government down at that time and hold their powder
until national opposition to the Trump admin built up stronger, which it clearly has,
might not have been so 'stupid'....

Refusing to fund the government while an incoming president's "honeymoon"
is still ongoing is probably a bad political move....


That "honeymoon" is clearly over NOW....

The majority of the American people have now contacted a divorce lawyer,
and the divorce suit against Trump has been filed....


It goes to court in November 2026!