DEAL Act of 2025

This bill orders an independent watchdog to review certain deals between the federal executive branch and large law firms. Within 180 days of the law taking effect, the Comptroller General must report on any such “settlements” to check whether the government broke the Miscellaneous Receipts Act, a law about properly handling money and benefits that come to the government.

It defines the deals it wants reviewed very specifically: agreements where a law firm provides legal services (even for free), tied to causes or beneficiaries chosen with the executive branch, made around the same time a government action aimed at that firm was withdrawn or not enforced, worth over $1 million in services, and entered between February 1 and April 30, 2025.

• Who is affected: Executive branch officials and large law firms; the public benefits from more transparency.
• What changes: A required report on whether these deals followed federal rules for handling value given to the government.
• When: The review covers deals made Feb 1–Apr 30, 2025; the report is due within 180 days after the law is enacted.