The No Political Enemies Act prohibits federal officials and agencies from investigating, prosecuting, or taking enforcement actions against individuals or organizations primarily because of their constitutionally protected political speech or participation. The bill applies to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and others present in the country, and creates several legal remedies: individuals can assert political targeting as an affirmative defense in enforcement cases (with the government bearing the burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence), sue for injunctive relief to stop government actions, and sue for damages if federal officials knowingly targeted them based on protected speech. The legislation also requires the Department of Justice to submit quarterly reports to Congress on major criminal investigations and prosecutions, mandates that federal funds cannot be spent on politically motivated enforcement actions, and removes caps on attorney's fees awards for defendants who successfully prove political targeting. The bill contains no explicit funding or implementation timeline beyond the requirement that DOJ reports be submitted within 30 days after each calendar quarter.
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