HR6091-119

What This Bill Does

The Bivens Act of 2025 is a short civil-rights enforcement bill. It amends section 1979 of the Revised Statutes, codified at 42 U.S.C. 1983, by adding persons acting under federal authority to the existing cause of action for deprivation of rights. Current section 1983 text focuses on actions taken under color of State law. The bill would make the statute also cover persons acting under authority of the United States, giving plaintiffs a statutory route to sue federal actors who deprive them of constitutional or federal rights.

Who Benefits and How

People alleging constitutional violations by federal officers benefit from an express statutory damages path. Civil-rights plaintiffs benefit because federal-authority conduct would be covered in the same civil action framework as State-action conduct. Civil-rights lawyers benefit from clearer statutory text for claims against federal actors. Federal courts benefit from Congress clarifying the availability of a federal-officer civil-rights cause of action.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal officers and federal employees face increased enforcement exposure and may have to pay or defend damages claims for rights-deprivation lawsuits. Federal agencies must handle defense costs, indemnification decisions, training updates, and risk-management implementation work. Department of Justice litigators must defend more cases involving federal-authority conduct when agencies or officers are sued. Federal courts must manage additional civil-rights filings against federal actors and related oversight of remedies.

Key Provisions

• Amends 42 U.S.C. 1983 to cover persons acting under authority of the United States.
• Creates an express statutory route for civil-rights claims against federal actors.
• Extends the existing rights-deprivation cause of action beyond State-action conduct.
• Increases litigation exposure for federal officers who violate constitutional or federal rights.