Federal courts have sufficient alternative funds to run until Thursday, and possibly Friday. From then on, courts will shut down all non-essential work. It is up to each court to determine what is or isn't essential. Court-appointed lawyers and jurors could be asked to work, but might not be compensated until the shutdown ends.
Some districts have requested a blanket halt to civilian cases because agencies involved with these cases have been furloughed. Attorneys have had to file stay requests for cases that have approaching deadlines.
Immigration court proceedings scheduled before the shutdown are being canceled, impeding green card applications.
The US supreme court says it will continue with normal operations through Friday, and its building is still open to the public as usual. If Congress does not resolve its issues by that date, the court will provide another update.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission closed most of its operations on Thursday, though on-site inspectors will remain on the job and the government says it will handle any immediate safety or security issues.
The school systems continues to operate, though some research facilities cannot apply for government grants or access government databases.
The US merchant marine academy canceled classes this week because unlike other academic institutions, nearly its entire staff is subject to furlough.
A Texas couple donated $10m to the Head Start pre-school program for children in low income families, which was shut down. The money is considered a no-interest loan and will be repaid if funding is restored at the end of the shutdown. The loan has been criticized by some on the left, because it comes from John Arnold, a former Enron trader.
States have been relying on contingency funds to cover the WIC program, which provides healthy food to 9 million low-income pregnant women, new mothers and children. The USDA warned that this funding might not last after October and some state programs have temporarily shut down, then reopened with emergency cash.
Military personnel remain on duty and nearly all civilian employees have been ordered back to work.
The government traditionally announces the annual cost-of-living (Cola) increase for next year's social security payments in mid-October. Because of the shutdown, that announcement – estimated to be about 1.5%, the smallest in years – has been delayed indefinitely.
Funds for the National Science Foundation's US Antarctic program will be depleted on Monday, the agency announced last week. The USAP is entering "caretaker status," which staffs the program at a minimal level at its three primary research stations, ships and other associated facilities.
The more than 12 million people who requested automatic extensions on their spring tax return must still file their returns, which are due on Tuesday.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/14/government-shutdown-closures-money?google_editors_picks=true
