U.S. Attorney’s office notes changes in case of government shutdown

By Steve Kanigher

Friday, April 8, 2011 | 4:30 p.m.

With a possible federal government shutdown looming after midnight tonight, the U.S. Attorney's office in Las Vegas said today that Justice Department functions critical to national security will continue to operate.

But other operations that do not directly involve protection of life and property will shut down until Congress approves an appropriations bill.

Functions that will continue regardless of what Congress does include the department's law enforcement operations. These include the operation of prisons and pursuit of criminal litigation.

But most civil litigation will be curtailed or postponed.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Las Vegas will retain some employees who are needed to address ongoing criminal matters and civil matters of urgency.

"We have developed a contingency plan for our office, and are fully prepared to execute that contingency plan, if and when the government shutdown occurs," said Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden.

Collins would be among those employees furloughed if there is a government shutdown.