Us Trustee

The United States Trustee Program (USTP) is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, established in 1978 and made permanent in 1986. It operates as a national program with an Executive Office in Washington, D.C., and 21 regions encompassing 82 field offices across the nation. The USTP's core mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for all stakeholders, including debtors, creditors, and the public, often serving as a "watchdog of the bankruptcy system" to prevent fraud, dishonesty, and overreaching.

The Program exercises broad administrative, regulatory, and litigation/enforcement authorities. Its duties include overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases, supervising private trustees for various chapters of bankruptcy (7, 11, 12, and 13), and monitoring credit counseling and debtor education providers. The USTP also engages in civil enforcement to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse, and refers bankruptcy-related criminal matters to U.S. Attorneys' offices for investigation and prosecution. Additionally, it focuses on facilitating access to justice for participants in the bankruptcy system.