IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
________________________________________________________
IN RE: STAY OF CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING :
THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY : STANDING ORDER
_______________________________________________ 2025-06
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 Attorneys’ Office
for the District of New Jersey (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 Order. As a result of the cited workforce
reductions, it is hereby
ORDERED, effective October 3, 2025, that all civil litigation in the United States District
Court for the District of New Jersey 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), and/or any other party represented by the Department of Justice
or the United States Attorney’s Office, with the exception of: civil forfeiture cases; civil
immigration matters, whether affirmative or defensive; United States v. Cumberland County,
No. 23-cv-02655 (ESK); United States v. Apple, No. 24-cv-04055 (JXN); and United States v.
City of Newark, No. 25-cv-5081 (EP), is immediately suspended, postponed, and held in
abeyance continuing either (1) until the federal government is funded through congressional
appropriation or (2) for a period of thirty (30) days from the entry of this Order, whichever
comes sooner. The Court may renew or modify this Order depending on developments during
the stay period. The Court intends “civil litigation” to include 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 Order includes, without further limitation, all other cases seeking
monetary or equitable relief in which the United States is involved as a civil litigant.
This 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, discovery and pleading dates, and/or
compliance and administration of consent orders. No party will be required to take any steps in
civil litigation affected until expiration of the stay. The Court warns litigants that this 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 Order may seek relief from the Order by motion. The Court
may, in any particular case, vary the effect or operation of this Order by a separate ruling.
This Standing Order shall be published and/or distributed as follows:
(a) The Clerk of Court shall post this Standing Order on the Court’s public website;
(b) The Government must file this Standing Order in all affected civil matters involving pro
se litigants and must serve this same Standing Order on all pro se litigants who do not
receive electronic notifications via CM/ECF; and
(c) The Government may elect to file this Standing Order in affected civil matters that do
not involve pro se litigants.
FOR THE COURT
Renée Marie Bumb
Chief U.S. District Judge
District of New Jersey
Dated in Camden, New Jersey this 3rd day of October, 2025.
