Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Department of Justice must comply with the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by refusing to administratively settle the billions of dollars in legal claims filed against the United States by President Donald Trump.
This House Resolution declares the sense of the House of Representatives that the Department of Justice (DOJ) must uphold the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. It specifically calls for the DOJ to reject any administrative settlement of the substantial legal claims filed against the United States by President Donald Trump. The resolution highlights that such settlements, if made by executive branch officials, would violate the constitutional prohibition against a President receiving additional emoluments from the government beyond their official compensation. The resolution cites a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump against the Internal Revenue Service and $230 million in administrative claims under the Federal Torts Claims Act as examples of the claims in question. It argues that allowing the President's subordinates within the executive branch to administratively approve these payments would create an unacceptable conflict of interest, akin to being "a judge in his own cause." The resolution concludes that while President Trump retains the right to pursue damages in an independent Article III court, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies are expressly forbidden from administratively settling these lawsuits or making direct monetary payments to him outside of his official salary.
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Timeline
Submitted in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Submitted in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Department of Justice must comply with the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by refusing to administratively settle the billions of dollars in legal claims filed against the United States by President Donald Trump.
USA119th CongressHRES-1185| House
| Updated: 4/16/2026
This House Resolution declares the sense of the House of Representatives that the Department of Justice (DOJ) must uphold the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. It specifically calls for the DOJ to reject any administrative settlement of the substantial legal claims filed against the United States by President Donald Trump. The resolution highlights that such settlements, if made by executive branch officials, would violate the constitutional prohibition against a President receiving additional emoluments from the government beyond their official compensation. The resolution cites a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump against the Internal Revenue Service and $230 million in administrative claims under the Federal Torts Claims Act as examples of the claims in question. It argues that allowing the President's subordinates within the executive branch to administratively approve these payments would create an unacceptable conflict of interest, akin to being "a judge in his own cause." The resolution concludes that while President Trump retains the right to pursue damages in an independent Article III court, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies are expressly forbidden from administratively settling these lawsuits or making direct monetary payments to him outside of his official salary.