Sponsors (16)
The bill increases congressional transparency and control over settlements involving a President or former President—reducing unilateral payouts risk—but does so at the cost of added delay, legal uncertainty, and potential politicization of routine settlements.
Congress (legislative branch) gets a same-day, identification-numbered report on any covered settlement, increasing transparency and enabling oversight of settlements involving a President or former President.
Taxpayers and federal employees gain a direct congressional approval role because covered settlements cannot take effect unless a joint resolution approving the settlement is enacted within 60 days, limiting unilateral executive settlement authority.
Taxpayers face reduced risk of unexpected Treasury payouts for settlements with a President or former President because payments are conditioned on Attorney General certification and the congressional approval process.
Presidents, plaintiffs, and taxpayers risk politicization of settlements because making approval dependent on a congressional joint resolution could subject routine legal settlements to partisan gridlock and inconsistent outcomes.
Plaintiffs, federal employees, and the government may experience delays and prolonged uncertainty because the 60-day congressional approval window and AG reporting requirements can slow final payment of settlements.
Government contractors and taxpayers could face legal uncertainty and additional litigation risk because deeming judgments final based on AG certification that no appeal will be taken may prompt challenges over finality.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditions approval and payment of certain settlements involving a President or former President on a numbered Attorney General report and a congressional joint resolution enacted within 60 days.
Official title: To amend title 28, United States Code, to reform the process for payment of certain compromise settlements, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 18, 2026 by John B. Larson · Last progress June 18, 2026
Requires the Attorney General to report and obtain Congress’s explicit approval before the government may enter or pay certain settlements that resolve litigation brought by or against a President or former President. It preserves Treasury payment of final judgments but treats some settlements as "covered settlements" that cannot be approved or paid unless a joint congressional resolution approving the settlement is enacted within 60 days after Congress receives a numbered report about it. Sets certification and reporting rules for the Attorney General, defines when a judgment is "final" for these purposes, and limits consideration or approval of covered settlements absent a timely enacted joint resolution. The change targets settlements involving defense of imminent litigation or suits by a President or former President against the United States, its agencies, or officials.