Sponsor
Jasmine Crockett
Representative · D-TX
The bill prevents taxpayer-funded legal defense for the President and relatives—saving public funds and improving perceived accountability—but shifts legal and financial burdens onto individuals, agencies, and private parties, which could create indirect costs, inequities, and potential deterrents to public service.
Taxpayers and federal finances: reduce or eliminate payments from the Treasury (Claims and Judgment Fund) to cover legal fees for the President or their relatives, lowering potential government expenditures and tightening accountability for personal legal costs.
The public and federal employees: reduce the appearance of conflicts of interest by preventing officials from accessing public funds for private litigation, which can preserve public trust in government spending and deter perception of preferential treatment.
Federal agencies, taxpayers, and the government more broadly: legal claims tied to official duties could still shift costs to other agencies or produce settlements/delays that ultimately impose public costs despite the ban on direct payment, creating indirect fiscal exposure.
Sitting Presidents, relatives, and potential candidates: imposing significant personal legal bills for matters involving official acts could deter qualified individuals from seeking or continuing in public office because of the financial and legal risk.
Government contractors and private parties involved in litigation with Presidents or relatives: uneven access to resources for defense could leave some disputes unresolved or poorly defended, producing public consequences and perceptions of unequal justice.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits the Claims and Judgment Fund and any federal funds from paying legal costs for the President, the President’s relatives, or associated entities in civil or criminal matters.
Representative · D-TX
Official title: To prohibit the use of Federal funds to pay the President a settlement for costs associated with being investigated by the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
Introduced October 28, 2025 by Jasmine Crockett · Last progress October 28, 2025
Prohibits use of the Claims and Judgment Fund and any other federal funds to pay legal fees, settlements, or compensation for the President, the President’s relatives, or entities associated with either in any criminal or civil matter where they are parties. The ban applies regardless of existing Claims and Judgment Fund authorities and blocks both obligating or expending amounts from that Fund and using any federal funds to cover such costs.