A Manhattan federal judge on Thursday suspended all civil cases involving the Manhattan US Attorney’s office — other than civil forfeiture cases — until the government shutdown ends.

Chief Judge Colleen McMahon issued the order at the request of Chief US Attorney of the Civil Division Jeffrey Oestericher, who said in a letter that most of the division’s assistant US attorneys and staffers have been placed on leave since the shutdown began on Dec. 21.

“Nearly all of the Assistant United States Attorneys and staff members in the Civil Division of this Office will be furloughed unless their services are necessary to protect the interest of the United States,” Oestericher wrote in a letter to McMahon.

“Given the sever constraints imposed upon the Civil Division by the funding lapse, we respectfully request that the Court enter and Order staying all civil cases in which this Office has appeared as counsel of record and tolling all court-ordered deadlines.”

McMahon’s ordered the suspension to continue until “the business day after the President signs into law a budget appropriation that restores Department of Justice funding.”