Sponsors
Introduced March 17, 2026 by Charles Ellis Schumer · Last progress March 17, 2026
The bill prevents use of DOJ settlement mechanisms to make personal payments to the President—protecting taxpayers and DOJ integrity—but may block or delay FTCA recoveries for victims and create additional costs and legal uncertainty for DOJ operations.
Taxpayers are protected from DOJ- or Judgment Fund-mediated direct personal payments to the President, reducing the risk that public funds would be used for private presidential benefit.
Federal employees and the broader public are less likely to face conflicts of interest because the bill bars DOJ-mediated payments that would personally benefit the President.
The Justice Department's institutional integrity and public trust in DOJ decisionmaking are preserved by preventing settlement mechanisms from being used to provide personal payments to the President.
Individuals seeking compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) may be prevented or delayed from obtaining recovery if the President is an intended recipient of settlement funds.
DOJ may face increased litigation and administrative costs — and taxpayers could bear higher expenses — if the Department must reject, litigate, or more narrowly process claims to avoid prohibited payments.
Broad or unclear definitions of what constitutes a payment 'for the President’s personal benefit' could create legal uncertainty that delays settlement processing and complicates DOJ operations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prevents the DOJ from using any funds to approve or facilitate FTCA claims that would result in a personal payment to the President, including Judgment Fund payouts.
Prohibits the Department of Justice from using any available funds to approve or facilitate Federal Tort Claims Act claims that would result in a personal payment to the President. That prohibition covers settlements and any payments issued from the Judgment Fund and applies to funds available before, on, or after enactment.