Overview

• California Representatives Sam Liccardo, Dave Min, and Virginia’s Eugene Vindman introduced the Protect Our Constitution and Communities Act to address funding freezes by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• The bill would allow individuals and institutions harmed by impoundments to sue specific officials, strip qualified immunity, and triple damages for bad-faith actions.
• DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has frozen congressionally approved funds for programs and grants, disproportionately affecting blue states and prompting widespread criticism.
• The legislation is grounded in the 1974 Impoundment Control Act and aims to reinforce constitutional separation of powers by curbing executive overreach.
• While unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress, its sponsors see the bill as a legislative blueprint for future or must-pass measures.