(LOOTPRESS) – Today, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) notified Congress of its intent to cease operations and pursue the permanent closure of one facility and the deactivation of multiple facilities. The FBOP faces several significant challenges, including critical staffing shortages, dilapidated infrastructure, and limited budgetary resources. FBOP leadership is committed to addressing these challenges through decisive and strategic action. These actions are part of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBOP’s ongoing efforts to address long-standing staffing, maintenance and repair needs across the agency. The DOJ and FBOP have advocated for additional resources on multiple occasions and recently offered our proposal to Congress through technical assistance.

Impact on employees: Many employees affected by this decision will be moving from one part of a facility to another part of the same facility. Remaining employees will have the opportunity to transfer to other FBOP facilities. FBOP is not about downsizing and we are committed to finding employment for every employee who wishes to remain with the agency. The movement of these employees will positively impact our staffing levels across multiple facilities and mitigate mandatory overtime and increments, which will help alleviate employee fatigue.

Impact on prisoners: Those in our care will move to other facilities. We will make every effort to place adults in custody (AIC) in facilities located within 500 miles of their planned release location, taking into account factors such as program requirements.

• FPC Morgantown, Morgantown, WV: Maximize existing resources at FCC Hazleton by ceasing operations at FPC Morgantown and relocating employees to FCC Hazleton, WV. FPC Morgantown employs approximately 150 people. AICs at FPC Morgantown will move to other FBOP minimum security facilities.