No Political Enemies Act

S. 3646, the No Political Enemies Act, would establish legal protections for individuals and organizations—including nonprofits, faith groups, media outlets, and educational institutions—against what sponsors characterize as politically motivated federal government actions. The bill would reaffirm free speech protections and prohibit the use of federal funds for investigations or regulatory actions that suppress protected speech.

If enacted, the bill would provide several tools for those targeted by federal actions. These would include meaningful access to evidence in legal proceedings, the ability to recover attorney fees when successfully defending against government actions, and mechanisms allowing courts to quickly dismiss what the bill characterizes as abusive actions. The legislation would also establish due process protections for nonprofits that the government attempts to label as criminal or terrorist organizations, and would create transparency and accountability measures for federal agencies.

The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. Sponsors argue it is necessary to protect constitutional rights, while the legislation faces significant political challenges in the Republican-controlled Congress.