# 119-hr-162: First Amendment Accountability Act

119-hr-162, First Amendment Accountability Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] (R-WY); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-162
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-162
- Congress: 119
- Title: First Amendment Accountability Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-03
- Sponsor: Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] (R-WY)
- Cosponsors: 15
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Creates a private right of action against federal employees for First Amendment violations.** It would let people sue individual federal officials who, under any federal law, regulation, custom, or usage, cause a deprivation of First Amendment rights. - Members of the public would gain a route to seek redress in court when a federal employee allegedly violates their free speech or related First Amendment rights. - Federal employees, excluding the President and the Vice President, could face personal liability in lawsuits and courts may award attorney's fees to prevailing private parties. - Federal employers and the United States would not be subject to suits brought by federal employees for conduct that falls within the employee's scope of employment. - The bill includes a severability clause so remaining provisions stay in effect if a court strikes down part of the law.

## Cosponsors (15)

- Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14] (R-GA), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4] (R-KY), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27] (R-TX), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2] (R-AZ), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2] (R-OK), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5] (R-TN), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6] (R-VA), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2025-01-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19] (R-FL), 2025-01-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2025-01-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7] (R-WI), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC), 2025-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9] (R-AZ), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] (R-FL), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Sue federal officials for speech violations: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would let you sue a federal employee for violating your First Amendment rights. The person must be using federal authority and work in an executive-branch agency, including independent agencies. The President and Vice President would not be covered. You could ask the court for…
- Limits on federal workers' lawsuits: cost, low. If enacted, federal employees would be barred from suing the federal government or their agency for actions done within their job duties. This would apply only when the conduct was within the scope of employment. It would narrow workplace legal claims for federal workers.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act
- 119-hr-569: Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025
- 119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1137: No Kill Switches in Cars Act
- 119-hr-1919: Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act
- 119-hr-1232: National Right-to-Work Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-162 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/162)

## Related
- [119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-425)
- [119-hr-569: Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-569)
- [119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-38)
- [119-hr-1137: No Kill Switches in Cars Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1137)
- [119-hr-1919: Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1919)
- [119-hr-1232: National Right-to-Work Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1232)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-162 (as of 2026-04-21).