The United States Trustee
Program is a component of the Justice Department that works
to ensure the integrity of the bankruptcy system across the
nation.
The duties of United States Trustees include:
- Appointing and supervising the private
trustees who collect and disburse funds to creditors
in bankruptcy cases under Chapters 7, 12, and 13;
- Assuring compliance with the Bankruptcy
Code with respect to information disseminated in cases
through reports, schedules, disclosure statements, reorganization
plans, and other filings.
- Reviewing fee
applications of professionals, like attorneys and accountants,
who serve in Chapter 11 business reorganization cases; and
- Monitoring bankruptcy cases for fraud and abuse, and
referring criminal matters to U.S. Attorneys for prosecution
in accordance with the USTP Mission
Statement.
The United States Trustee Program was created as a pilot
program by the 1978 Bankruptcy Reform Act. In 1986, Congress
expanded the program from the original 18 judicial districts,
and it now operates in all states except North Carolina and
Alabama.
The 1986 enactment established 21
regions, each of which is administered by a United States
Trustee. In addition to the 21 regional offices, there are
95 field offices, most of which are headed by an Assistant
United States Trustee.
The Executive
Office for U.S. Trustees, located in Washington, D.C.,
oversees the United States Trustee Program's substantive operations
and handles the program's administrative functions. Cifford J. White III serves as Director of the Executive Office for
United States Trustees, under authority derived from the Attorney
General.
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