Sponsors (3)
The bill protects taxpayers by blocking Treasury payments for judgments against the President or Vice President, but it shifts legal and financial risk onto those officials, can limit plaintiffs' ability to obtain remedies, and creates administrative complexity for courts and payment authorities.
Taxpayers: Prevents public funds from being used to pay judgments or settlements that arise from lawsuits filed by the President or Vice President, reducing potential Treasury expenditures.
Federal government administrators: Establishes a clear rule limiting Treasury payment authority for claims against the President or Vice President, simplifying administrative decisions about whether to disburse funds.
Presidents and Vice Presidents: Shifts the financial responsibility for defending or resolving suits onto the individuals, increasing their personal legal exposure and potential out‑of‑pocket costs.
Litigants/plaintiffs: Makes it harder for plaintiffs to obtain effective relief because successful judgments against the President or Vice President may not be payable from the Treasury, limiting remedies available through such suits.
Courts and payment authorities: Creates implementation and determinations about applicability to actions arising on or after Jan 20, 2025, which could delay case resolution or enforcement and add administrative burden.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits Judgment Fund payments for judgments, settlements, awards, interest, or costs from suits filed by the President or Vice President for causes arising on/after Jan 20, 2025.
Official title: Provide for limitations on judgements, awards, and compromise settlements under section 1304 of title 31, United States Code.
Introduced June 1, 2026 by Adam Schiff · Last progress June 1, 2026
Prohibits use of federal Judgment Fund payments to satisfy judgments, settlements, awards, interest, or costs stemming from any lawsuit or claim filed by the President or Vice President for causes of action arising on or after January 20, 2025. The change adds a new prohibition to existing federal law governing payments from the Judgment Fund and applies to pending and future cases with covered dates.