The FEES Act of 2026 restricts when individuals and organizations can recover attorney's fees from the federal government in disputes with agencies or in lawsuits against the United States. The bill caps attorney's fee awards at $200,000 per case and limits parties to receiving awards in no more than three cases per calendar year, unless the case involves a class action lawsuit or the Social Security Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs is involved. Additionally, the legislation prohibits federal agencies from paying attorney's fees or litigation costs as part of settlement agreements or consent decrees that result in new regulations or guidance documents. The bill also requires the Secretary of Interior to establish an independent scientific panel within five years to assess how these attorney's fee restrictions affect federal lands, including impacts on forest health, wildfire risk, biodiversity, and economic productivity, with results to be reported to Congress.
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