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119-hr-8309119th Congress

To amend title 28, United States Code, to prohibit Presidents and Vice Presidents from receiving damages payments from the United States, and for other purposes.

Sponsored By: Representative Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

Introduced

Summary

Prohibits current Presidents, Vice Presidents, and certain close relatives and entities from receiving settlement payments from the United States. It would also stop those covered from filing claims and create strict rules for how agencies and courts handle any related cases, add transparency requirements, and impose civil and criminal penalties for violations.

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  • Covers the President, the Vice President, some former Presidents in a narrow circumstance, the spouse and dependent children of those officials, and trusts or entities tied to them. It bars settlements, consent decrees, or other payments to these covered individuals and forbids routing payments to third parties.
  • Stops federal departments and agencies from processing or fulfilling claims by or on behalf of covered individuals. Courts could award only actual compensatory damages and only if the court appoints independent counsel removable only for cause and the agency cooperates. Courts must post filings online and provide contemporaneous public audio. Claims by former covered individuals would be allowed only under strict review rules and rapid Federal Register disclosure within 7 days.
  • Imposes tough penalties for willful violations, including disgorgement, civil penalties up to $1.0 million and up to 5 years imprisonment for covered individuals.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

Who counts as a covered individual

This bill would define who is a "covered individual." That phrase would include the President, the Vice President, some former Presidents in a specific situation, their spouses and dependent children, and trusts or legal vehicles for them. If enacted, this definition would decide who the other payment bans and procedures apply to. The definition would take effect upon enactment.

Ban on federal payments to presidents

This bill would bar covered individuals from getting damages, reimbursements, attorney fees, or any other payment or in-kind benefit from the United States by settlement, consent decree, administrative resolution, or similar arrangement. It would also stop a covered individual from filing administrative claims seeking those payments. Agencies would be prohibited from processing or fulfilling such claims or directing payments to third parties. These bans would take effect upon enactment.

Penalties for violating payment bans

This bill would create civil and criminal penalties for violating the payment rules. A covered individual who willfully gets or knowingly files for banned payments could be forced to give up the payment, pay civil fines up to the greater of $1,000,000 or the total paid, and face up to 5 years in prison, or both. Any officer or employee who willfully causes an agency to process a banned claim could face civil fines up to $50,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both. These penalties would take effect upon enactment.

Rules and transparency for covered suits

If enacted, former covered individuals could pursue claims after leaving office only if agencies follow strict steps. Agencies would have to appoint an expert career employee removable only for good cause, bar any executive appointee of the claimant from participating, publish payment agreements and payment details in the Federal Register within 7 days, and notify relevant congressional committees before and when they decide. Courts would be limited to awarding only actual or compensatory damages, and only if the covered individual agrees to court-appointed independent counsel removable only for cause and the agency cooperates. Courts would also have to post filings and provide contemporaneous online audio of proceedings.

Timing and limits for enforcement

The bill would set a 10-year time limit to start prosecutions for violations of this section. It would also toll the limitations period for any claim a covered individual seeks to bring while the person is a covered individual, from the date they become covered until the day after their term ends. The section would apply to any request, processing, or recovery that happens after enactment, even if the underlying claim arose earlier. These timing rules would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/15/2026

  • Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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