Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley said he wants to see changes to a provision in the House-passed “big, beautiful bill” that could limit judges’ ability to enforce court orders.
Under the provision, U.S. courts can’t use federal funds to enforce a contempt order unless the party bringing the case gives a so-called security — or posts a bond.
Democrats planned to challenge the measure under the so-called Byrd rule, which limits provisions that can be included in reconciliation legislation to those that impact the budget. They and some legal scholars claim the provision would hamstring the federal court system and weaken judges’ power at a time when the Trump administration is already acting with disregard for the law.
“If it does meet the Byrd test, there needs to be some changes,” Grassley (R-Iowa) said. He declined to provide further details.
