Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act

119th Congress Introduced by Brendan Boyle and 12 co-sponsors

H.R. 8955 would bar all federal funds from being used to pay any claims submitted to the DOJ-established Anti-Weaponization Fund, ensuring funding for AWF claims cannot come from f

Introduced in House

Overview

Bill: H.R. 8955

Session: 119th Congress

Title: Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act

Purpose: Prohibits the use of federal funds to pay claims submitted to the Anti-Weaponization Fund (AWF), a fund established by the Department of Justice on May 18, 2026.

Introduced: May 21, 2026

Primary sponsors: Patrick Fitzpatrick (and multiple co-sponsors), with bipartisan support among several members of Congress

Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

What the bill would do (key provisions)

Prohibition on funding for AWF claims: The bill explicitly states that, notwithstanding any other law, no federal funds may be used to pay any claim submitted to the Anti-Weaponization Fund.

Funding source restriction: This prohibition applies to all federal funds, including funds appropriated under 31 U.S.C. § 1304 (which governs the disposition and use of miscellaneous receipts and possibly related federal funds). In effect, AWF payments could not be made using federal appropriations or other federal funds.

Who/what would be affected

Anti-Weaponization Fund claims: Any claim submitted to the AWF would be barred from payment using federal funds.

Federal agencies administering AWF: While the AWF is established by the Department of Justice, the bill constrains the ability of the executive branch to disburse AWF payments using federal money.

Taxpayers: The bill targets payments funded by federal dollars, aiming to increase transparency about how funds are used and to prevent use of appropriated federal money for AWF claim payments.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: The bill was introduced on May 21, 2026, and was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on the same day.

No floor action or passage details are provided in the summary, so current status beyond referral is not available here.

Effective date: The bill states the prohibition immediately “Notwithstanding any other provision of law,” with respect to AWF claim payments established on May 18, 2026. This implies an immediate constraint on AWF payments upon enactment.

Potential implications

Budgetary impact: If the AWF were to issue claims prior to enactment, this act would restrict using federal funds to cover those claims, potentially requiring alternative funding mechanisms or denying payment.

Transparency and accountability: The bill aligns with a transparency/oversight objective by ensuring that federal dollars are not used to pay AWF claims, potentially prompting scrutiny of AWF operations and funding sources.

Administrative considerations: Agencies and the DOJ would need to ensure compliance with the prohibition, adjusting AWF administration and claims processing accordingly.

Summary

H.R. 8955 – the Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act – would prohibit the use of any federal funds to pay claims submitted to the Anti-Weaponization Fund, established by the DOJ in May 2026. The measure intends to restrict AWF disbursements to avoid using appropriated federal dollars for these claims, aligning funding practices with a stated goal of greater transparency and accountability. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration.