Legislation

House Democrats are committed to using every tool available to push back against far-right extremism that is harming the American people and to protect vulnerable communities from the disastrous impacts of the current administration’s executive orders and agency actions. 

The Litigation Working Group and Rapid Response Task Force has moved decisively to respond to these actions in Congress, introducing the following legislative initiatives: 

• The Employee Limits ON Profiteering Act, introduced by Reps. Kathy Castor and Dave Min, which would prevent special government employees like Elon Musk from receiving any federal contracts, grants and awards, similar to prohibitions for most government workers.

• The Protect Our Probationary Employees Act, introduced by Rep. Sarah Elfreth ensures that if and when federal employees are reinstated, they will not need to restart their probationary period for the same job they previously held and can continue to do their important work for the American people.

• The Protect U.S. National Security Act, introduced by Rep. Sara Jacobs, which reiterates that any USAID reform should abide by existing laws and not harm American soft power, prohibits the use of funds to eliminate USAID as an independent agency, and requires annual certification of this prohibition by the Secretary of State.

• The Prevent Tariff Abuse Act, introduced by Rep. Suzan DelBene, would prevent the President of the United States from imposing import tariffs under the guise of a national emergency without Congressional approval.

• The Reclaim Trade Powers Act, introduced by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, would strip outdated presidential tariff powers and ensure that major trade decisions require Congressional approval.

• The Repealing Outdated and Unilateral Tariff Authorities Act, introduced by Rep. Brad Schneider, would repeal the use of Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose reciprocal tariffs on U.S. allies.

• The Congressional Trade Authority Act, introduced by Rep. Don Beyer, would require the president to submit to Congress any proposal to adjust imports in the interest of national security under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

• The Data Taxpayer Protection Act, introduced by Reps. Haley Stevens and Sean Casten, would prohibit unlawful access to the Treasury Department Payment Systems.

• The Consistent Legal Expectations and Access to Records Act, introduced by Rep. Hilary Scholten, reiterates that temporary organizations created under 5 USC 3161, like DOGE, are subject to FOIA.

• The Department of Education Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Jahana Hayes, would prohibit the use of appropriated funds to be used to decentralize, reduce the staffing level of, or alter the responsibilities, structure, authority, or functionality of the Department of Education.

• The Ending DOGE Conflicts Act, introduced by Rep. John Larson, would require Special Government Employees with a company that contracts with the Federal Government to file a public financial disclosure and face review for potential conflicts of interest by the independent Office of Government Ethics.

• The Nobody Elected Elon Musk Act, introduced by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, would ensure that DOGE is liable for any claims against the federal government relating to any unlawful or unconstitutional actions.

• The Model Employee Reinstatement for Ill-advised Termination (MERIT) Act, introduced by Rep. LaMonica McIver, would reinstate federal employees who were unjustly fired by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative that targeted federal workers.

• The Protect Veteran Jobs Act, introduced by Rep. Derek Tran, which would reinstate veterans who have been removed or dismissed from federal employment without cause.