Republicans clash over surprise phone records provision that could enrich senators

Source: The Hill

11/16/25 6:00 AM ET


Republicans are at odds over an effort to unwind a controversial provision tucked into the bill to reopen the government that would allow senators to sue for substantial sums if they aren’t notified when federal law enforcement seeks their phone records.

The provision has fueled classic tensions between the House and the Senate, prompted an effort to repeal the new law, divided Republicans, and started to become fodder for primary opponents.

Signed into law by President Trump last week, the unusual addition to the spending bill fundamentally changes how investigators must treat the 100 members of the Senate. And because it is retroactive to 2022, it also opens the door for ten GOP senators whose records were subpoenaed by special counsel Jack Smith to seek a minimum of $500,000 in compensation.

House Republicans were blindsided by and furious about its inclusion. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said after the bill passed that he was “very angry” about the lawsuit provision, and that it was “way out of line.” “We had no idea that was dropped in at the last minute,” Johnson said. Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) swiftly introduced legislation to strike the provision, saying that “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5606597-republicans-phone-records-lawsuits-funding-bill/