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119-s-3470119th Congress

Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement Act

Sponsored By: Senator Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

Introduced

Summary

Would hold federal law enforcement agencies legally responsible when their officers violate people's civil rights. It defines a new "public employer" to include federal law enforcement agencies that employ or contract officers, and it creates a cause of action allowing injured people to sue those agencies even if no agency policy caused the violation or the officer asserts immunity.

Show full summary
  • Victims: People subjected to rights violations by federal officers could sue the federal agency that employed or contracted the officer for damages and other relief.
  • Federal agencies: Federal law enforcement agencies would face broad vicarious liability and the bill waives the United States' sovereign immunity for claims brought under this section.
  • Officers and remedies: Individual officers remain separately liable and can still face suits or defenses because the bill does not limit other legal remedies against officers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More ability to sue federal agencies

If enacted, the bill would let people sue the United States when a federal law officer deprives them of rights. It would define a "public employer" to include federal law enforcement agencies that employ or contract officers. The bill would apply when an officer is acting under color of law and can search, seize, or arrest. The federal agency would be liable even if no agency policy caused the violation and even if the officer has defenses or immunity. The bill would waive the United States' sovereign immunity for these claims. You could still sue the individual officer as well.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 12/15/2025

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/16/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 1/28/2026

  • Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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