Congress targets Trump properties with federal spending ban
H.R. 490 — Constitutional Emoluments Protection of American Interests Act of 2025 · Filed by Steve Cohen (D-TN) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill prohibits the federal government from spending any money at properties owned, managed, or controlled by Donald J. Trump, and bars new federal contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements with those entities. The bill names over 500 Trump-owned or Trump-affiliated properties and business entities across the U.S. and internationally, effectively blocking federal agencies from using Trump hotels, golf clubs, real estate, and related businesses.
Why we flagged it
The bill is framed as a constitutional emoluments protection but functions primarily as a targeted prohibition on a single named individual's business interests. It is not a general anti-corruption standard (which would apply to all federal officials) but a one-person carve-out, making it a partisan messaging bill rather than structural governance reform.
What the text implies
- The bill does not address existing federal contracts or leases with Trump entities—only prospective ones—leaving current arrangements untouched and potentially creating a perverse incentive to lock in long-term agreements before the bill passes.
- The bill names Trump's family trusts (Fred C. Trump trusts, Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust) as prohibited entities, which may inadvertently restrict federal spending at properties held in trust even if Trump has no direct operational control.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Competing hotel and hospitality operators (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.); Alternative real estate and event venues in major cities