DEAL Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4859

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-08-01: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2025-09-11T18:49:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Disclosure of Engagements with Attorney Law Firms Act of 2025 (DEAL Act of 2025) aims to promote transparency and accountability in agreements between the Executive Branch of the U.S. government and certain law firms. It directs an independent review to check if specific settlements violate federal rules on handling government funds, specifically the Miscellaneous Receipts Act (a law requiring that money received by government officials must be deposited into the U.S. Treasury rather than kept for personal or agency use).

Key Provisions

• Required Report: The Comptroller General of the United States (head of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, or GAO) must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
• Scope of Review: The report must examine any "settlement made with a covered law firm" to determine if it violates 31 U.S.C. § 3302(b), the Miscellaneous Receipts Act.
• Definition of "Settlement Made with a Covered Law Firm": This refers to any written or oral agreement, arrangement, or commitment between a law firm and an Executive Branch officer, employee, agent, or the President that meets all of the following criteria:
• Involves the law firm providing legal services, including free (pro bono) representation.
• Directs those services toward causes, initiatives, or beneficiaries chosen, approved, or jointly selected by the Executive Branch.
• Occurs alongside or in connection with the withdrawal, cancellation, or decision not to enforce an executive order, administrative action, or regulatory measure targeting the law firm.
• Has an estimated value of legal services exceeding $1,000,000 over the agreement's term.
• Was made between February 1, 2025, and April 30, 2025.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill does not amend or repeal any existing laws. Instead, it introduces a one-time investigative requirement focused on a narrow time period (February to April 2025). It builds on the Miscellaneous Receipts Act by mandating oversight of potential violations through a GAO report, but it creates no new penalties or ongoing rules.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Executive Branch (including agencies and the President) may face increased scrutiny of past dealings with law firms, potentially leading to internal reviews or policy adjustments if violations are identified. The GAO's involvement ensures independent analysis without direct enforcement power.
• On Citizens: It could enhance public trust in government by highlighting any misuse of influence or funds, though direct effects on individuals are limited as the bill targets specific high-value agreements.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic Executive Branch activities with U.S. law firms.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Comptroller General: Responsible for conducting and delivering the report.
• Executive Branch Officials: Including the President, agency employees, and agents, whose actions during the specified period may be reviewed.
• Covered Law Firms: Large firms involved in high-value legal service agreements tied to government actions, potentially facing reputational or legal risks if violations are found.
• Congress: Receives the report and could use it for further oversight or legislation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The bill enforces existing anti-corruption rules (Miscellaneous Receipts Act) by requiring evidence-based review, but findings could prompt civil or criminal investigations if misuse of funds is confirmed. It avoids creating new crimes, focusing instead on disclosure.
• Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about separation of powers, as Congress directs oversight of Executive Branch activities, which is a standard congressional tool but could be challenged if seen as overly intrusive into presidential discretion.
• Political Implications: The narrow timeframe (early 2025) suggests targeted scrutiny of recent or anticipated administration actions, potentially fueling debates on executive influence over private entities like law firms, though the bill remains neutral in mandating factual reporting without preconceived judgments.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-08-01: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-08-01: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-01: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Disclosure of Engagements with Attorney Law Firms Act of 2025 — issued 2025-08-01 — PDF (3 pages)