No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jan 6, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to prevent any federal financial benefit or restitution for individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, including those who were pardoned, and directs any unrefunded payments to the Architect of the Capitol.
What it actually does
This bill prohibits the use of any federal funds, including those from the Judgment Fund or any victim compensation fund, to compensate individuals who were prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, even if they were subsequently pardoned. It also prevents the refunding of court-ordered restitution, fines, or special assessments paid by convicted individuals, directing any such unrefunded amounts to the Architect of the Capitol.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill upholds accountability for those involved in the January 6 attack, ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are not used to reward or compensate individuals who engaged in actions against the U.S. Capitol and democratic processes. They contend it sends a clear message that such actions will not be financially condoned or mitigated by the government.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that this bill is largely symbolic, as there are no current proposals or legal frameworks that would lead to federal compensation for January 6 defendants. They might also raise concerns about the bill potentially preempting future legal or executive actions, such as pardons, which could theoretically include provisions for restitution, though this is highly speculative.
The bill is very short and straightforward, making it highly accessible for a quick read and understanding.
Section 2(a)
Prohibits Federal Funds for January 6 Attack Compensation
This section explicitly forbids the use of any federal money, including funds from the Judgment Fund (used for court awards against the U.S. government) or any victim compensation fund, to pay individuals who were prosecuted for their role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. This prohibition applies even if such individuals were later pardoned.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue this provision is crucial for preventing any perception that the government might financially reward or mitigate the consequences for those who participated in the attack, reinforcing accountability for their actions.
Critics contend
Opponents might argue that this provision is largely preemptive and addresses a hypothetical scenario, as there are no active efforts to compensate these individuals. Some might view it as potentially limiting future executive clemency powers if a pardon were ever to include a component of restitution, though this is a highly speculative interpretation.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between ensuring accountability for past actions and potentially limiting future executive discretion, even in highly unlikely scenarios.
Section 2(b)
Bans Creation of Compensation Funds for January 6 Rioters
This part of the bill specifically prohibits the creation of any new fund designed to compensate individuals who were prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol. It aims to prevent any future legislative or administrative attempts to establish such a mechanism.
Section 3(a)
Prevents Refund of Court-Ordered Payments
This section mandates that no money from the U.S. Treasury can be used to refund any court-ordered payments, such as restitution, fines, or special assessments, that were paid by individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. This prohibition applies even if the convicted individual is subsequently pardoned.
Section 3(b)
Directs Unrefunded Payments to Architect of the Capitol
This section directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer any amounts that would otherwise be refunded (as described in Section 3(a) – court-ordered payments from January 6 convicts) to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). This ensures that any funds collected from these individuals, which are explicitly barred from being refunded, are instead directed towards the maintenance or restoration of the Capitol.