While millions of Americans are missing out on paychecks due to Individual 1’s shutdown of the U.S. government, there is a much smaller group that may stop getting checks as well: members of the federal grand jury impaneled by special counsel Robert Mueller. Even though the investigation has funds allotted to continue, those funds are dwindling.
ABC has more:
A spokeswoman for the court said Tuesday that once the court drains its operating budget, grand jurors will continue to be summoned, but payment will be deferred until Congress and President Donald Trump reach a deal to re-open the government.
Funding for the federal courts has been extended through the end of January “through a multi-pronged strategy of deferring non-critical operating costs and utilizing court filing fees and other available balances,” according to a statement from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, which oversees the federal court system.
“No further extensions beyond Feb. 1 will be possible,” the statement said.
The jurors only get $60 a day, but those funds are no doubt greatly needed, given the abnormally long duration of service for members of the jury, who have already served for a year and a half. Even with back pay, it’s hard to stomach losing any income when you’ve earned it—and need it.