The House of Representatives has unanimously voted to repeal a contentious provision included in the government shutdown bill, which allowed Republican senators to sue the federal government over their phone records seized by former special counsel Jack Smith. The measure, known as the ‘Arctic Frost’ provision, was added last minute to the recently passed bill to end the 43-day government shutdown, which President Donald Trump signed into law last week.
Despite supporters arguing the provision was necessary to ensure congressional oversight and accountability, the measure outraged both Republicans and Democrats. The repeal passed with a 426-0 vote, with 210 Democrats and 216 Republicans in favor. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., who was involved in crafting the successful funding deal, admitted he was afraid the provision could derail the final vote to end the shutdown.
The provision, dubbed ‘Requiring Senate Notification for Senate Data,’ would have allowed senators directly targeted in the Arctic Frost investigation to sue the U.S. government for up to $500,000. It was inserted into the bill by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and supported by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sources confirmed to Fox News Digital. However, the last-minute inclusion caused significant tension between the House and Senate, leading to its swift repeal.
House Republicans, including Reps. Chip Roy, Austin Scott, and Morgan Griffith, expressed frustration with the provision, but ultimately agreed it should not stand in the way of ending the shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., revealed he was blindsided by the move and urged Senate colleagues to repeal the measure. Meanwhile, some senators, including Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, have continued to advocate for their right to sue, claiming they were wronged by the Justice Department’s actions.
While the repeal of the provision highlights the growing divide between the House and Senate, it also underscores the ongoing debates over executive overreach and congressional accountability. The situation remains highly polarized, with no clear resolution in sight for the contentious issue of government oversight and legal recourse for lawmakers.