Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D–Texas) is drawing a firm line between public money and presidential misconduct through a news Act.
The freshman congresswoman announced the introduction of her new bill — the “No Presidential Payouts Act” — aimed squarely at stopping taxpayer dollars from being used to pay any president’s personal legal expenses.
Her message is blunt: taxpayers don’t owe Donald Trump a dime.
Crockett’s legislation comes amid reports that Trump is seeking $230 million in reimbursements from the federal government to cover his mounting legal fees tied to multiple criminal and civil cases. The congresswoman says that’s unacceptable at a time when “families across this country are struggling to keep up with grocery bills and rent.”
“Let me be clear—if a President ends up in court, that’s their problem, not the taxpayers’,” Crockett said in a statement from her office. “The American people didn’t sign up to fund hush money, courtroom battles, or criminal defense teams. Folks in my district are working hard just to make ends meet—they shouldn’t be paying for a President’s corruption.”
The No Presidential Payouts Act would prohibit the Department of Justice or any federal agency from using taxpayer funds to cover settlements, reimbursements, or other costs related to investigations involving the President, their family, or their businesses.
In essence, the bill closes a loophole that could allow presidents—or those connected to them—to tap public funds for private wrongdoing. It’s a measure designed not only as a fiscal safeguard but also as a moral one, reinforcing the idea that no one, not even a president, should be shielded from accountability by the American taxpayer.
Crockett’s move adds to her growing reputation as one of Congress’s most outspoken watchdogs against political privilege. The Texas Democrat has repeatedly called out what she views as misuse of power and hypocrisy among high-ranking officials.
Her proposal also signals an emerging Democratic strategy: using legislative tools to confront Trump-era norms that blurred the boundaries between personal business and public service.
If passed, the No Presidential Payouts Act would cement in law what most Americans already believe — that public money should serve the people, not a president’s pocket.
