Judgment Fund
Search Payments Request AwardThe Judgment Fund pays court judgments and compromise settlements of lawsuits against the government. Federal agencies may ask the Bureau of the Fiscal Service to pay from the Judgment Fund for:
- Most court judgments and Justice Department settlements of actual or imminent litigation against the government
- Administrative claim awards (settlements by agencies at the administrative level, not involving a lawsuit)
An agency may only ask for payment from the Judgment Fund if funds are not legally available to pay from the agency's own appropriations.
If another source of funds exists to pay the award, the Judgment Fund cannot be used even if the other source does not have enough money. In that case, the agency with the other source of funds must ask Congress to appropriate more money for that other source.
Reimbursing the Judgment Fund
In most cases, the agency does not have to reimburse the Judgment Fund. However, reimbursement is required when the case comes under either the Contract Disputes Act or the No FEAR Act. For instructions in those situations, see Reimbursing the Judgment Fund.
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