Drain the Slush Fund Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9239
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T21:59:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to restrict the use of the federal Judgment Fund for payments related to lawsuits or claims initiated by the President or Vice President.
Key Provisions
- Amends section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, by adding a new subsection (e).
- Prohibits authorization of any judgment, award, compromise settlement, interest, or costs from the Judgment Fund for claims arising from lawsuits filed by the President or Vice President.
- Applies to all pending cases and any cause of action arising on or after January 20, 2025.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Currently, section 1304 allows payments from the Judgment Fund for various judgments and settlements against the United States without specific congressional approval for each case.
- The bill introduces an explicit exclusion for claims brought by the sitting President or Vice President, creating a targeted limitation not present in prior law.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies, particularly the Department of the Treasury and Department of Justice, would be barred from using the Judgment Fund to cover costs in qualifying cases.
- The President and Vice President could face greater personal financial exposure or need alternative funding sources, such as private payment or specific congressional appropriations.
- No direct effects on international relations or general citizens are outlined in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The President and Vice President, whose litigation would be ineligible for Judgment Fund payments.
- Executive branch agencies responsible for defending or processing claims.
- Congress, which may need to address funding through other means.
- Taxpayers, as the change limits access to a centralized federal payment mechanism.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Raises questions about equal treatment of claims involving high-level officials compared to other litigants.
- Could affect separation of powers by limiting executive branch access to a standard federal funding source for legal matters.
- The applicability date ties the restriction to the start of a presidential term, potentially influencing ongoing or future litigation involving executive officials.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Drain the Slush Fund Act — issued 2026-06-10 — PDF (2 pages)