No Torts for Trump Act
Sen. Schiff Introduces No Torts for Trump Act to Block Presidents From Suing the Federal Government
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review. It is actively moving through the system, but no future hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill listed for this legislation at this time.
Legislative Progress
This bill is supported only by one party and targets a specific individual, making it very unlikely to pass a divided Congress or avoid a veto.
Key Points
- This bill would bar the President from filing lawsuits against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which normally lets individuals sue the government for personal injuries or property damage caused by federal employees.
From policy text
“To amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to prohibit the President from seeking relief under that chapter.”
View in full text - The restriction also applies to anyone who becomes President while they already have a pending FTCA claim. That means if someone files a lawsuit and then wins the presidency, their case would be thrown out.
- The bill is retroactive. It covers not only future lawsuits but also any claims that are already in progress when the law takes effect, regardless of when the underlying incident happened.
From policy text
“The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to any claim pending on, or brought on or after, the date of enactment of this Act.”
View in full text - Introduced by Sen. Schiff along with 11 Democratic co-sponsors, the bill is aimed at preventing a conflict of interest where a sitting President could personally collect money from the very government they lead. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
From policy text
“Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Reed, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Duckworth, and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesScoop: Schiff seeks to block $230 million payout to Trump
Sen. Adam Schiff is introducing the 'No Torts for Trump Act' to prevent sitting presidents from seeking taxpayer-funded payouts under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The bill follows reports that Trump is seeking a $230 million settlement for investigations he faced during his first term.
Senators Introduce 'No Torts for Trump' Act
Seven U.S. Senators, led by Mazie Hirono and Adam Schiff, introduced the No Torts for Trump Act (S. 3182). The legislation would prohibit sitting presidents from seeking relief under the Federal Tort Claims Act, aiming to prevent leaders from using the legal system for personal enrichment.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
No Torts for Trump Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(11)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.