U.S. Attorney's Office in Second Week of Furlough

LAFAYETTE/SHREVEPORT/MONROE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that operations of the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, all divisions - Lafayette, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria and Lake Charles continue to suffer from the effects of the partial shutdown that started at midnight on October 1, 2013.

The office as a whole is operating with 54 percent of its original staff. Most civil litigation has stopped.  Because of the partial shutdown, the majority of the office’s staff working on civil litigation continues to be furloughed.  The few remaining employees in the Civil Division have been left to monitor hundreds of civil matters to ensure the interests of the United States are protected.  Administrative and criminal support staff have also been furloughed, but criminal litigation is ongoing, as these activities are deemed essential to the safety of human life and the protection of property.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work with federal, state and local law enforcement on criminal matters.

Because of the effects of the appropriations lapse on activities of the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has not been able to readily respond to media inquiries.  Press releases are being limited to urgent matters involving public safety.  The office’s website is not being actively updated during the shutdown.  The district will continue to receive communications from the public via mail, email and/or telephone.  For additional information concerning the effects of the appropriations lapse and partial shutdown, visit www.justice.gov/jmd/publications/doj-contingency-plan.pdf or www.justice.gov/usao/law.