1. U.S. Code
  2. title 28
  3. part II
  4. chapter 39
  5. § 589

Collapse to view only § 589. Staff and other employees

§ 581. United States trustees
(a) The Attorney General shall appoint one United States trustee for each of the following regions composed of Federal judicial districts (without regard to section 451):
(1) The judicial districts established for the States of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
(2) The judicial districts established for the States of Connecticut, New York, and Vermont.
(3) The judicial districts established for the States of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
(4) The judicial districts established for the States of Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia and for the District of Columbia.
(5) The judicial districts established for the States of Louisiana and Mississippi.
(6) The Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Texas.
(7) The Southern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas.
(8) The judicial districts established for the States of Kentucky and Tennessee.
(9) The judicial districts established for the States of Michigan and Ohio.
(10) The Central District of Illinois and the Southern District of Illinois; and the judicial districts established for the State of Indiana.
(11) The Northern District of Illinois; and the judicial districts established for the State of Wisconsin.
(12) The judicial districts established for the States of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
(13) The judicial districts established for the States of Arkansas, Nebraska, and Missouri.
(14) The District of Arizona.
(15) The Southern District of California; and the judicial districts established for the State of Hawaii, and for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(16) The Central District of California.
(17) The Eastern District of California and the Northern District of California; and the judicial district established for the State of Nevada.
(18) The judicial districts established for the States of Alaska, Idaho (exclusive of Yellowstone National Park), Montana (exclusive of Yellowstone National Park), Oregon, and Washington.
(19) The judicial districts established for the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (including those portions of Yellowstone National Park situated in the States of Montana and Idaho).
(20) The judicial districts established for the States of Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
(21) The judicial districts established for the States of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the United States.
(b) Each United States trustee shall be appointed for a term of five years. On the expiration of his term, a United States trustee shall continue to perform the duties of his office until his successor is appointed and qualifies.
(c) Each United States trustee is subject to removal by the Attorney General.
(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2662; amended Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 111(a)–(c), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3090, 3091.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 581

§ 582. Assistant United States trustees
(a) The Attorney General may appoint one or more assistant United States trustees in any region when the public interest so requires.
(b) Each assistant United States trustee is subject to removal by the Attorney General.
(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2663; amended Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 111(d), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3091.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 582

§ 583. Oath of office

Each United States trustee and assistant United States trustee, before taking office, shall take an oath to execute faithfully his duties.

(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2663.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 583

§ 584. Official stations

The Attorney General may determine the official stations of the United States trustees and assistant United States trustees within the regions for which they were appointed.

(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2663; amended Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 144(d), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3096.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 584

§ 585. Vacancies
(a) The Attorney General may appoint an acting United States trustee for a region in which the office of the United States trustee is vacant. The individual so appointed may serve until the date on which the vacancy is filled by appointment under section 581 of this title or by designation under subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The Attorney General may designate a United States trustee to serve in not more than two regions for such time as the public interest requires.
(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2663; amended Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 112, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3091.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 585

§ 586. Duties; supervision by Attorney General
(a) Each United States trustee, within the region for which such United States trustee is appointed, shall—
(1) establish, maintain, and supervise a panel of private trustees that are eligible and available to serve as trustees in cases under chapter 7 of title 11;
(2) serve as and perform the duties of a trustee in a case under title 11 when required under title 11 to serve as trustee in such a case;
(3) supervise the administration of cases and trustees in cases under chapter 7, 11 (including subchapter V of chapter 11), 12, 13, or 15 of title 11 by, whenever the United States trustee considers it to be appropriate—
(A)
(i) reviewing, in accordance with procedural guidelines adopted by the Executive Office of the United States Trustee (which guidelines shall be applied uniformly by the United States trustee except when circumstances warrant different treatment), applications filed for compensation and reimbursement under section 330 of title 11; and
(ii) filing with the court comments with respect to such application and, if the United States Trustee considers it to be appropriate, objections to such application;
(B) monitoring plans and disclosure statements filed in cases under chapter 11 of title 11 and filing with the court, in connection with hearings under sections 1125 and 1128 of such title, comments with respect to such plans and disclosure statements;
(C) monitoring plans filed under chapters 12 and 13 of title 11 and filing with the court, in connection with hearings under sections 1224, 1229, 1324, and 1329 of such title, comments with respect to such plans;
(D) taking such action as the United States trustee deems to be appropriate to ensure that all reports, schedules, and fees required to be filed under title 11 and this title by the debtor are properly and timely filed;
(E) monitoring creditors’ committees appointed under title 11;
(F) notifying the appropriate United States attorney of matters which relate to the occurrence of any action which may constitute a crime under the laws of the United States and, on the request of the United States attorney, assisting the United States attorney in carrying out prosecutions based on such action;
(G) monitoring the progress of cases under title 11 and taking such actions as the United States trustee deems to be appropriate to prevent undue delay in such progress;
(H) in small business cases (as defined in section 101 of title 11), performing the additional duties specified in title 11 pertaining to such cases; and
(I) monitoring applications filed under section 327 of title 11 and, whenever the United States trustee deems it to be appropriate, filing with the court comments with respect to the approval of such applications;
(4) deposit or invest under section 345 of title 11 money received as trustee in cases under title 11;
(5) perform the duties prescribed for the United States trustee under title 11 and this title, and such duties consistent with title 11 and this title as the Attorney General may prescribe;
(6) make such reports as the Attorney General directs, including the results of audits performed under section 603(a) of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005;
(7) in each of such small business cases—
(A) conduct an initial debtor interview as soon as practicable after the date of the order for relief but before the first meeting scheduled under section 341(a) of title 11, at which time the United States trustee shall—
(i) begin to investigate the debtor’s viability;
(ii) inquire about the debtor’s business plan;
(iii) explain the debtor’s obligations to file monthly operating reports and other required reports;
(iv) attempt to develop an agreed scheduling order; and
(v) inform the debtor of other obligations;
(B) if determined to be appropriate and advisable, visit the appropriate business premises of the debtor, ascertain the state of the debtor’s books and records, and verify that the debtor has filed its tax returns; and
(C) review and monitor diligently the debtor’s activities, to determine as promptly as possible whether the debtor will be unable to confirm a plan; and
(8) in any case in which the United States trustee finds material grounds for any relief under section 1112 of title 11, apply promptly after making that finding to the court for relief.
(b) If the number of cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 or chapter 12 or 13 of title 11 commenced in a particular region so warrants, the United States trustee for such region may, subject to the approval of the Attorney General, appoint one or more individuals to serve as standing trustee, or designate one or more assistant United States trustees to serve in cases under such chapter. The United States trustee for such region shall supervise any such individual appointed as standing trustee in the performance of the duties of standing trustee.
(c) Each United States trustee shall be under the general supervision of the Attorney General, who shall provide general coordination and assistance to the United States trustees.
(d)
(1) The Attorney General shall prescribe by rule qualifications for membership on the panels established by United States trustees under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and qualifications for appointment under subsection (b) of this section to serve as standing trustee in cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 or chapter 12 or 13 of title 11. The Attorney General may not require that an individual be an attorney in order to qualify for appointment under subsection (b) of this section to serve as standing trustee in cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 or chapter 12 or 13 of title 11.
(2) A trustee whose appointment under subsection (a)(1) or under subsection (b) is terminated or who ceases to be assigned to cases filed under title 11, United States Code, may obtain judicial review of the final agency decision by commencing an action in the district court of the United States for the district for which the panel to which the trustee is appointed under subsection (a)(1), or in the district court of the United States for the district in which the trustee is appointed under subsection (b) resides, after first exhausting all available administrative remedies, which if the trustee so elects, shall also include an administrative hearing on the record. Unless the trustee elects to have an administrative hearing on the record, the trustee shall be deemed to have exhausted all administrative remedies for purposes of this paragraph if the agency fails to make a final agency decision within 90 days after the trustee requests administrative remedies. The Attorney General shall prescribe procedures to implement this paragraph. The decision of the agency shall be affirmed by the district court unless it is unreasonable and without cause based on the administrative record before the agency.
(e)
(1) The Attorney General, after consultation with a United States trustee that has appointed an individual under subsection (b) of this section to serve as standing trustee in cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 or chapter 12 or 13 of title 11, shall fix—
(A) a maximum annual compensation for such individual consisting of—
(i) an amount not to exceed the highest annual rate of basic pay in effect for level V of the Executive Schedule; and
(ii) the cash value of employment benefits comparable to the employment benefits provided by the United States to individuals who are employed by the United States at the same rate of basic pay to perform similar services during the same period of time; and
(B) a percentage fee not to exceed—
(i) in the case of a debtor who is not a family farmer, ten percent; or
(ii) in the case of a debtor who is a family farmer, the sum of—(I) not to exceed ten percent of the payments made under the plan of such debtor, with respect to payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $450,000; and(II) three percent of payments made under the plan of such debtor, with respect to payments made after the aggregate amount of payments made under the plan exceeds $450,000;
based on such maximum annual compensation and the actual, necessary expenses incurred by such individual as standing trustee.
(2) Such individual shall collect such percentage fee from all payments received by such individual under plans in the cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 or chapter 12 or 13 of title 11 for which such individual serves as standing trustee. Such individual shall pay to the United States trustee, and the United States trustee shall deposit in the United States Trustee System Fund—
(A) any amount by which the actual compensation of such individual exceeds 5 per centum upon all payments received under plans in cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 or chapter 12 or 13 of title 11 for which such individual serves as standing trustee; and
(B) any amount by which the percentage for all such cases exceeds—
(i) such individual’s actual compensation for such cases, as adjusted under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); plus
(ii) the actual, necessary expenses incurred by such individual as standing trustee in such cases. Subject to the approval of the Attorney General, any or all of the interest earned from the deposit of payments under plans by such individual may be utilized to pay actual, necessary expenses without regard to the percentage limitation contained in subparagraph (d)(1)(B) of this section.
(3) After first exhausting all available administrative remedies, an individual appointed under subsection (b) may obtain judicial review of final agency action to deny a claim of actual, necessary expenses under this subsection by commencing an action in the district court of the United States for the district where the individual resides. The decision of the agency shall be affirmed by the district court unless it is unreasonable and without cause based upon the administrative record before the agency.
(4) The Attorney General shall prescribe procedures to implement this subsection.
(5) In the event that the services of the trustee in a case under subchapter V of chapter 11 of title 11 are terminated by dismissal or conversion of the case, or upon substantial consummation of a plan under section 1183(c)(1) of that title, the court shall award compensation to the trustee consistent with services performed by the trustee and the limits on the compensation of the trustee established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(f)
(1) The United States trustee for each district is authorized to contract with auditors to perform audits in cases designated by the United States trustee, in accordance with the procedures established under section 603(a) of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
(2)
(A) The report of each audit referred to in paragraph (1) shall be filed with the court and transmitted to the United States trustee. Each report shall clearly and conspicuously specify any material misstatement of income or expenditures or of assets identified by the person performing the audit. In any case in which a material misstatement of income or expenditures or of assets has been reported, the clerk of the district court (or the clerk of the bankruptcy court if one is certified under section 156(b) of this title) shall give notice of the misstatement to the creditors in the case.
(B) If a material misstatement of income or expenditures or of assets is reported, the United States trustee shall—
(i) report the material misstatement, if appropriate, to the United States Attorney pursuant to section 3057 of title 18; and
(ii) if advisable, take appropriate action, including but not limited to commencing an adversary proceeding to revoke the debtor’s discharge pursuant to section 727(d) of title 11.
(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2663; amended Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 113, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3091; Pub. L. 101–509, title V, § 529 [title I, § 110(a)], Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1427, 1452; Pub. L. 103–394, title II, § 224(a), title V, § 502, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4130, 4147; Pub. L. 109–8, title IV, § 439, title VI, § 603(b), title VIII, § 802(c)(3), title XII, § 1231, Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 113, 122, 146, 201; Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(c)(3), Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3563; Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(b)(1), Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1086.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 586

§ 587. Salaries

Subject to sections 5315 through 5317 of title 5, the Attorney General shall fix the annual salaries of United States trustees and assistant United States trustees at rates of compensation not in excess of the rate of basic compensation provided for Executive Level IV of the Executive Schedule set forth in section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2664; amended Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 114(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3093.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 587

§ 588. Expenses

Necessary office expenses of the United States trustee shall be allowed when authorized by the Attorney General.

(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2664.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 588

§ 589. Staff and other employees

The United States trustee may employ staff and other employees on approval of the Attorney General.

(Added Pub. L. 95–598, title II, § 224(a), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2664.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 589

§ 589a. United States Trustee System Fund
(a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a special fund to be known as the “United States Trustee System Fund” (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Fund”). Monies in the Fund shall be available to the Attorney General without fiscal year limitation in such amounts as may be specified in appropriations Acts for the following purposes in connection with the operations of United States trustees—
(1) salaries and related employee benefits;
(2) travel and transportation;
(3) rental of space;
(4) communication, utilities, and miscellaneous computer charges;
(5) security investigations and audits;
(6) supplies, books, and other materials for legal research;
(7) furniture and equipment;
(8) miscellaneous services, including those obtained by contract; and
(9) printing.
(b) For the purpose of recovering the cost of services of the United States Trustee System, there shall be deposited as offsetting collections to the appropriation “United States Trustee System Fund”, to remain available until expended, the following—
(1)
(A) 40.46 percent of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(1)(A); and
(B) 28.33 percent of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(1)(B);
(2) 48.89 percent of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(3) of this title;
(3) one-half of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(4) of this title;
(4) one-half of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(5) of this title;
(5) 100 percent of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(6) of this title; 1
1 See Deposits of Fees Under Section 1930(a)(6) of This Title for Certain Fiscal Years note below.
(6) three-fourths of the fees collected under the last sentence of section 1930(a) of this title;
(7) the compensation of trustees received under section 330(d) of title 11 by the clerks of the bankruptcy courts;
(8) excess fees collected under section 586(e)(2) of this title;
(9) interest earned on Fund investment; and
(10) fines imposed under section 110(l) of title 11, United States Code.
(c) Amounts in the Fund which are not currently needed for the purposes specified in subsections (a) and (f) shall be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States.
(d) The Attorney General shall transmit to the Congress, not later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a detailed report on the amounts deposited in the Fund and a description of expenditures made under this section.
(e) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund for any fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to supplement amounts deposited under subsection (b) for the purposes specified in subsection (a).
(f)
(1) During each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026 and notwithstanding subsection (b)(5), the fees collected under section 1930(a)(6), less the amount specified in paragraph (2), shall be deposited as follows, in the following order:
(A) First, the amounts needed to offset the amount specified in the Department of Justice appropriations for that fiscal year, shall be deposited as discretionary offsetting collections to the “United States Trustee System Fund”, pursuant to subsection (a), to remain available until expended.
(B) Second, the amounts determined annually by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts that are necessary to reimburse the judiciary for the costs of administering payments under section 330(e) of title 11, shall be deposited as mandatory offsetting collections to the “United States Trustee System Fund”, and transferred and deposited into the special fund established under section 1931(a), and notwithstanding subsection (a), shall be available for expenditure without further appropriation.
(C) Third, the amounts determined annually by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts that are necessary to pay trustee compensation authorized by section 330(e)(2) of title 11, shall be deposited as mandatory offsetting collections to the “United States Trustee System Fund”, and transferred and deposited into the Chapter 7 Trustee Fund established under section 330(e) of title 11 for payment to trustees serving in cases under chapter 7 of title 11 (in addition to the amounts paid under section 330(b) of title 11), in accordance with that section, and notwithstanding subsection (a), shall be available for expenditure without further appropriation.
(D) Fourth, any remaining amounts shall be deposited as discretionary offsetting collections to the “United States Trustee System Fund”, to remain available until expended.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (b), for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026, $5,400,000 of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(6) shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
(Added Pub. L. 99–554, title I, § 115(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3094; amended Pub. L. 101–162, title IV, § 406(c), Nov. 21, 1989, 103 Stat. 1016; Pub. L. 102–140, title I, § 111(b), (c), Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 795; Pub. L. 103–121, title I, § 111(a)(2), (b)(2), (3), Oct. 27, 1993, 107 Stat. 1164; Pub. L. 104–91, title I, § 101(a), Jan. 6, 1996, 110 Stat. 11, amended Pub. L. 104–99, title II, § 211, Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 37; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title I, § 109(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–18; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(1) [title I, title I, § 113], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A–6, 1501A–20; Pub. L. 109–8, title III, § 325(b), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 99; Pub. L. 109–13, div. A, title VI, § 6058(a), May 11, 2005, 119 Stat. 297; Pub. L. 110–161, div. B, title II, § 212(a), Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 1914; Pub. L. 112–121, § 3(b), May 25, 2012, 126 Stat. 348; Pub. L. 116–325, § 3(b), Jan. 12, 2021, 134 Stat. 5087

CITE AS: 28 USC 589a

§ 589b. Bankruptcy data
(a)Rules.—The Attorney General shall, within a reasonable time after the effective date of this section, issue rules requiring uniform forms for (and from time to time thereafter to appropriately modify and approve)—
(1) final reports by trustees in cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 and chapters 7, 12, and 13 of title 11; and
(2) periodic reports by debtors in possession or trustees in cases under chapter 11 of title 11.
(b)Reports.—Each report referred to in subsection (a) shall be designed (and the requirements as to place and manner of filing shall be established) so as to facilitate compilation of data and maximum possible access of the public, both by physical inspection at one or more central filing locations, and by electronic access through the Internet or other appropriate media.
(c)Required Information.—The information required to be filed in the reports referred to in subsection (b) shall be that which is in the best interests of debtors and creditors, and in the public interest in reasonable and adequate information to evaluate the efficiency and practicality of the Federal bankruptcy system. In issuing rules proposing the forms referred to in subsection (a), the Attorney General shall strike the best achievable practical balance between—
(1) the reasonable needs of the public for information about the operational results of the Federal bankruptcy system;
(2) economy, simplicity, and lack of undue burden on persons with a duty to file reports; and
(3) appropriate privacy concerns and safeguards.
(d)Final Reports.—The uniform forms for final reports required under subsection (a) for use by trustees under subchapter V of chapter 11 and chapters 7, 12, and 13 of title 11 shall, in addition to such other matters as are required by law or as the Attorney General in the discretion of the Attorney General shall propose, include with respect to a case under such title—
(1) information about the length of time the case was pending;
(2) assets abandoned;
(3) assets exempted;
(4) receipts and disbursements of the estate;
(5) expenses of administration, including for use under section 707(b), actual costs of administering cases under chapter 13 of title 11;
(6) claims asserted;
(7) claims allowed; and
(8) distributions to claimants and claims discharged without payment,
in each case by appropriate category and, in cases under subchapter V of chapter 11 and chapters 12 and 13 of title 11, date of confirmation of the plan, each modification thereto, and defaults by the debtor in performance under the plan.
(e)Periodic Reports.—The uniform forms for periodic reports required under subsection (a) for use by trustees or debtors in possession under chapter 11 of title 11 shall, in addition to such other matters as are required by law or as the Attorney General in the discretion of the Attorney General shall propose, include—
(1) information about the industry classification, published by the Department of Commerce, for the businesses conducted by the debtor;
(2) length of time the case has been pending;
(3) number of full-time employees as of the date of the order for relief and at the end of each reporting period since the case was filed;
(4) cash receipts, cash disbursements and profitability of the debtor for the most recent period and cumulatively since the date of the order for relief;
(5) compliance with title 11, whether or not tax returns and tax payments since the date of the order for relief have been timely filed and made;
(6) all professional fees approved by the court in the case for the most recent period and cumulatively since the date of the order for relief (separately reported, for the professional fees incurred by or on behalf of the debtor, between those that would have been incurred absent a bankruptcy case and those not); and
(7) plans of reorganization filed and confirmed and, with respect thereto, by class, the recoveries of the holders, expressed in aggregate dollar values and, in the case of claims, as a percentage of total claims of the class allowed.
(Added Pub. L. 109–8, title VI, § 602(a), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 120; amended Pub. L. 116–54, § 4(b)(2), Aug. 23, 2019, 133 Stat. 1086.)

CITE AS: 28 USC 589b