DEAL Act of 2025

The Disclosure of Engagements with Attorney Law Firms Act of 2025 (DEAL Act of 2025) would require the Comptroller General (GAO) to produce a report within 180 days of enactment assessing settlements with a narrow category of “covered law firms.” A settlement with a covered law firm is defined by several criteria, including that the agreement involves delivery of legal services to federal officials, suggests executive-branch-directed beneficiaries, is connected to the withdrawal or softening of an executive action or regulatory threat, has an estimated value of more than $1 million, and falls within a specific window (February 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025). The report would determine whether any such settlements violate the Miscellaneous Receipts Act (31 U.S.C. 3302(b)). In short, the bill is focused on transparency and oversight, seeking to uncover potential improper financial arrangements between federal officials and large law firms.