House Will Vote on Repealing Funding Provision Allowing Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches

The provision allows senators to recover a minimum $500,000 per illegal search of their data by the federal government.
House Will Vote on Repealing Funding Provision Allowing Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill on Nov. 10, 2025. Tom Brenner/Getty Images
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced on Nov. 12 that the House will soon vote on legislation to repeal a provision of a deal to end the shutdown that allows senators to sue if the government illegally obtains their electronic records.

The provision in question creates a civil right of action to sue the U.S. government if a senator’s digital data, generated in the course of their official duties, is illegally accessed by the Executive Branch. Senators could recover a minimum of $500,000 per violation.