No Taxpayer Bailouts for Insurrectionists Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9136
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Law
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T21:21:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9136
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill establishes restrictions on the use of federal funds for settlement agreements involving certain high-level officials and individuals connected to the events of January 6, 2021. Its stated goal is to prevent taxpayer funds from being used in specific settlements, with particular focus on a named case involving the President.
Key Provisions Outlined
- General limitation: No federal funds (including from the Judgment Fund under 31 U.S.C. § 1304) may be obligated for any settlement agreement of $50,000 or more with a "covered person" unless the requirements of the Act are met.
- Specific prohibition: Funds may not be obligated under the settlement agreement in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D. Fla.).
- Definition of covered person: Includes the President, Vice President, cabinet officials, their immediate family members, political appointees, and any person convicted of a criminal offense related to January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol.
- Reporting requirement: Before obligating $50,000 or more in such a settlement, the Attorney General must submit a report to Congress at least 90 days in advance. The report must list all claims and payments (including payee names and amounts), provide the legal justification for the agreement, and include certification from the Department of Justice Inspector General that the agreement is lawful and follows ethical best practices.
- GAO study: The Comptroller General must complete a study within 90 days of enactment examining whether obligations or expenditures from the compensation fund in the specified Trump v. IRS settlement comply with appropriations law, including anti-deficiency provisions in 31 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1342, and 1511–1519.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- The bill adds new procedural hurdles and congressional oversight for settlements involving covered persons, which previously could be handled through standard executive branch processes.
- It creates an outright ban on funding one specific settlement agreement.
- It mandates pre-obligation reporting and independent certification that do not currently apply to such agreements under existing rules for the Judgment Fund or Department of Justice settlements.
Potential Impacts on Government Agencies, Citizens, or International Relations
- Government agencies: Increases administrative burdens on the Department of Justice, requiring detailed reporting and Inspector General review for qualifying settlements. The Government Accountability Office must conduct a targeted study on one case.
- Citizens: Restricts the use of taxpayer funds for settlements with the listed individuals, potentially limiting compensation in those cases.
- International relations: No direct provisions affect international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The President, Vice President, cabinet officials, their family members, political appointees, and individuals convicted in connection with January 6, 2021.
- The Department of Justice and its Inspector General.
- Congress, which receives advance reports on qualifying settlements.
- The Government Accountability Office, tasked with the required study.
- Federal agencies involved in appropriations and settlement payments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The legislation directly targets a pending judicial settlement, which may raise questions about legislative involvement in ongoing litigation or executive settlement authority.
- It imposes new conditions on the use of the Judgment Fund for specific categories of recipients, potentially affecting how the executive branch resolves disputes.
- The bill's focus on January 6 convictions and a named case involving the current President introduces case-specific restrictions that could be viewed as legislative oversight of executive actions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Taxpayer Bailouts for Insurrectionists Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (3 pages)