Federal Funding Protection Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8993

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Law

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-06-15T16:40:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 8993 – Federal Funding Protection Act

Purpose

This legislation aims to expand the authority of federal district courts to hear certain lawsuits against the United States involving the termination of federal grants. It links these cases to existing reviews of agency actions under administrative law procedures.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Jurisdiction Rules: The bill adds a new provision to section 1346(a) of title 28, United States Code.
• Scope of New Jurisdiction: District courts gain original and concurrent authority over civil actions where the plaintiff seeks to overturn the termination of a federal grant.
• Condition for Applicability: This applies only when the grant termination stems from an agency action that is already the subject of a separate civil action for review under chapter 7 of title 5 (the Administrative Procedure Act).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expansion of District Court Authority: Prior to this amendment, section 1346(a) covered specific types of civil actions against the United States; the bill introduces paragraph (3) to include grant termination challenges.
• Concurrent Jurisdiction: Allows these cases to be filed in district courts alongside other forums, rather than limiting options to specialized courts or requiring exclusive jurisdiction elsewhere.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Federal agencies that award and terminate grants may face additional lawsuits in district courts, potentially increasing administrative and legal workload.
• On Citizens and Grantees: Recipients of federal grants could gain easier access to district courts to challenge terminations tied to agency decisions.
• On Judicial System: District courts may see more cases involving federal funding disputes, affecting case loads without direct effects on international relations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal agencies responsible for grant programs.
• Individuals, organizations, or entities receiving federal grants.
• U.S. district courts and the Department of Justice.
• Congress, as the body overseeing federal funding laws.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Jurisdictional Shift: Strengthens the role of general federal trial courts in administrative disputes involving funding, potentially streamlining challenges but raising questions about court resources.
• Link to Administrative Procedure Act: Ties grant-related claims directly to existing APA review processes, which could affect how agencies defend terminations in litigation.
• No Direct Constitutional Issues Highlighted: The bill focuses on procedural jurisdiction changes within existing federal court authority under Article III.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Federal Funding Protection Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (2 pages)