This bill, titled the "Fixing Egregiously Expensive Suits Act of 2026" or "FEES Act of 2026," significantly amends provisions related to the payment of attorney's fees by the United States government. It modifies the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) to narrow the eligibility criteria for receiving such awards in both agency adjudications and civil actions. Specifically, a prevailing party must now demonstrate a direct and personal monetary interest , such as personal injury, private property damage, or unpaid agency disbursement, to qualify for fee reimbursement. The legislation introduces strict limitations on the amount and frequency of attorney's fee awards. Under the revised law, a party generally cannot receive more than $200,000 in fees and expenses for any single adjudication or civil action. Furthermore, individuals or entities are limited to receiving awards for no more than three such actions initiated within the same calendar year, with exceptions for class action lawsuits or cases involving the Social Security Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs. Beyond fee awards, the bill prohibits the inclusion of attorney's fees or litigation costs in settlement agreements or consent decrees that result in a new federal regulation or guidance document. Finally, it mandates that the Secretary of Interior assemble an independent scientific panel within five years of enactment. This panel will assess the Act's impacts on the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of federally managed lands, considering factors like forest health, wildfire susceptibility, and biodiversity, and report its findings to Congress.