IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA
In the matter of
GENERAL ORDER HOLDING IN
ABEYANCE CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING MISCELLANEOUS
THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY GENERAL ORDER 25-10
This matter is before the Court due to the lapse of congressional appropriations
funding the federal government, including the Department of Justice and the United
States Attorney’s Office. Absent an appropriation, the United States represents that
certain Department of Justice attorneys and employees of the federal government are
prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis, except in very limited circumstances,
including “emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.”
31 U.S.C. § 1342. Therefore, the lapse in appropriations requires a reduction in the
workforce of the United States Attorney’s Office and other federal agencies, particularly
with respect to prosecution and defense of civil cases. The Court, in response, and with
the intent to avoid any default or prejudice to the United States or other civil litigants
occasioned by the lapse in funding, enters this General Order. As a result of the cited
workforce reductions,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
Effective October 6, 2025, that all civil litigation involving as a party the United
States of America, its agencies, its officers or employees (whether in their individual or
official capacity and whether current or former employees), or any other party represented
by the Department of Justice or the United States Attorney’s Office is immediately
suspended, postponed and held in abeyance continuing for a period of fourteen days
from the date of entry of this General Order. The Court may renew or modify this General
Order depending on developments in the stay period. All “civil litigation” includes all
pending non-criminal cases in which the United States, its agencies, its officers or
employees (whether in their individual or official capacity and whether current or former
employees) is in any way a named party and any non-criminal cases in which the United
States Attorney’s Office or the Department of Justice is counsel of record. This includes,
without limitation, all pending Social Security cases and all cases seeking monetary or
equitable relief in which the United States is involved as a civil litigant. The General Order
does not affect habeas corpus cases pending or filed under Chapter 153 of Title 28.
This General Order suspends and continues, during the stay, any and all events
and deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether established by order, rule, or
agreement), including but not limited to any scheduled proceedings, hearings, or
discovery and pleading dates. No party will be required to take any steps in civil litigation
affected until expiration of the stay. The Court warns litigants that this General Order does
not purport to affect rights to or deadlines concerning appeal from any decision of this
Court, which will continue to operate and issue orders in the normal course.
Any litigant affected by this General Order may seek relief from the order by
motion. The Court may, in any particular case, vary the effect or operation of this General
Order by a separate ruling.
The Clerk shall distribute this General Order:
(a) by electronic service to all registered CM/ECF users;
(b) by posting the General Order on the Court’s public website.
The Court shall clarify the status of case schedules upon expiration of the stay and
dependent on the timing of the funding resolution.
DATED this 6th day of October, 2025, at Anchorage, Alaska.
/s/ Sharon L. Gleason
Hon. Sharon L. Gleason
UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE
Distribution:
District & Magistrate Judges Clerk of Court
Court Rules Attorney Court Librarian
U.S. Marshal U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services
Federal Public Defender U.S. Attorney
Alaska Bar Assn. Bankruptcy Judge
Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court Attorneys via ECF
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