WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — A last-minute provision added to the bill ending the record-breaking government shutdown has sparked outrage among Republicans and Democrats alike, exposing new divisions in Congress even as government operations resume.
The controversial measure, inserted by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, allows senators to sue the federal government for up to $500,000 over searches of their phone records connected to the January 6 investigation.
The new amendment gives lawmakers the right to take legal action against the federal government if their phone or internet records were accessed during investigations not directly involving them. It also requires service providers to alert Senate offices if federal authorities request such data—unless a senator is personally under criminal investigation.
The law applies retroactively to cases since January 2022, meaning senators whose data was reviewed during that period can now sue for damages. The measure is tied to the investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Republican senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, and Marsha Blackburn were reportedly among those whose phone records were subpoenaed by the FBI as part of the probe.
The provision has drawn swift backlash, with critics calling it a “self-dealing” move that benefits a select few lawmakers.
A spokesperson for Senator Marsha Blackburn told Newsweek she plans to sue, saying Blackburn “intends to fight against activist bureaucrats who violate the constitutional rights of conservative Americans.”
Senator Ron Johnson, however, said he would not take legal action. “I have no plans at this time,” Johnson told Newsweek. “If I did sue, it would only be to expose the corrupt weaponization of federal law enforcement by the Biden and Obama administrations.”
While the measure appears to favor a handful of senators, it has angered members from both parties who argue it undermines fairness and transparency.
Even within the Republican Party, reactions have been sharply divided. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the move, saying, “I don’t think that was the smart thing to do,” according to Politico.
MAGA-aligned lawmakers Lauren Boebert and Anna Paulina Luna also denounced the decision. Boebert wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she would vote to repeal the “ridiculous policy” that allows senators to sue the Department of Justice using taxpayer money. Luna called the provision “outrageous,” accusing the senators involved of self-dealing to protect their own interests.
Representative Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, also spoke out against the provision. “We should pass laws for Americans, not for any special category,” Jordan told Politico.
Democrats have accused Senate leaders from both parties of quietly adding the measure at the last minute without consulting the committees responsible for oversight.
Senator Martin Heinrich, the ranking member of the legislative branch subcommittee, told Politico he was furious about the lack of transparency. “This is precisely what’s wrong with the Senate,” Heinrich said.
Democrats tried to remove the provision by proposing an amendment to the House Rules Committee, but the effort failed. Lawmakers warned that striking the language would have sent the bill back to the Senate, prolonging the shutdown that began on October 1 and became the longest in U.S. history, lasting 43 days.
Despite bipartisan criticism, the House of Representatives passed the bill on Wednesday, officially ending the historic shutdown. Six Democrats joined Republicans to support the measure.
While the vote restored funding and reopened the government, the controversy surrounding the Thune amendment has left deep scars on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers from both parties now face growing public anger over what critics see as a misuse of legislative power.
Observers say the dispute could complicate future budget negotiations and further erode public trust in Congress. As the government returns to full operation, the uproar underscores how political divisions and late-night dealmaking continue to shape Washington’s most consequential decisions.
