USAOs and Department litigating divisions should submit Urgent Reports in memo format to the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General and include the following:

1. • Name and contact information of the United States Attorney or Assistant Attorney General submitting the Urgent Report;
2. • Date of the Urgent Report;
3. • Classification level: Urgent Reports that contain classified material must be sent through appropriate secure communications;
4. • Contact Person: Name and contact information of person with complete knowledge of the facts reported;
5. • Synopsis: A one paragraph or shorter summary of the facts; and
6. • Discussion: A concise recitation of the development giving rise to the need for the Urgent Report, including whether media is aware of the subject matter of the report.
7. • Component notice or consultation: Under the Justice Manual, certain investigative steps or litigation actions require notice to, consultation with, or approval by another Department office or component. See, e.g., JM 9-13.400 (members of news media), JM 9-51.101 (cybercrime), JM 9-85.500 (election year sensitivities), JM 9-90.020 (national security). In such cases, the USAO or litigating division submitting the Urgent Report should indicate the date of such notice, consultation, or approval.

Department litigating divisions should submit Urgent Reports by email in a manner prescribed by the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. USAOs must submit Urgent Reports to EOUSA through the USA-Report system. The fact that a matter is highly sensitive or one from which others in the Department may be recused does not relieve USAOs and Department litigating divisions from the obligation to submit Urgent Reports. In those circumstances, USAOs should coordinate with EOUSA and litigating divisions with ODAG concerning submission of an Urgent Report.

[updated September 2024]