Norton Introduces Bill to Exempt D.C. Courts, CSOSA, PDS from Federal Government Shutdowns

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced her bill to exempt from federal government shutdowns agencies that have jurisdiction only over District of Columbia matters but are exclusively or primarily funded by the federal government and not under the District's control. Norton emphasized that these agencies are essentially D.C. agencies that have nothing to do with federal issues or congressional shutdown matters. They provide critical criminal and civil justice services to the District and should continue to function during a federal government shutdown to protect the safety and well-being of D.C. residents.

This bill includes agencies that are exclusively funded by the federal government and are not under the District's control: the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for D.C., the D.C. Courts, the D.C. Public Defender Service, the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, and the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission. The bill also includes the D.C. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which is a D.C. agency but is primarily funded by the federal government.

"These are criminal and civil justice agencies whose focus is exclusively on District of Columbia matters but are funded by the federal government," Norton said. " These agencies provide critical local services to D.C., including law enforcement, and should continue to function as usual during a federal government shutdown. Congress should pass this bill to prevent irreparable damage from being done to the District's justice system as soon as possible, before the specter of yet another inevitable shutdown looms."

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