Sat Nov 22 05:40:00 UTC 2025: House Votes to Repeal Controversial “Arctic Frost” Provision Allowing Senators to Sue DOJ
Washington D.C. – The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted 426-0 to repeal a contentious provision in the recent government funding law that allows senators to sue the Department of Justice (DOJ) for up to $500,000 if their phone records are seized without prior notification.
The provision, dubbed “Arctic Frost,” was added to the funding bill by Senate Majority Leader John Thune at the request of several Republican senators after FBI records related to an investigation called “Arctic Frost,” which pertained to the fake elector scheme from 2020 were released.
The original provision requires senators to be notified when federal investigators access their phone records, with exceptions, or face potential lawsuits and payouts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced his surprise at the inclusion of the provision, while Republican Rep. Chip Roy said, “We’re striking the provision as fast as we can, and we expect the Senate to move it.”
While some senators whose records were seized have distanced themselves from the measure, like Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, others like Sen. Lindsey Graham, plans to sue the DOJ for “far more” than $500,000 and advocated for expanding the measure to include private citizens.
It remains uncertain whether the Senate will follow suit, with Senator Thune standing by the provision. Sen. Steve Daines, also a Thune ally, argued that special counsel Jack Smith’s subpoenas of phone records from nine GOP lawmakers was an “overreach.”
The future of the “Arctic Frost” provision hangs in the balance as it returns to the Senate, highlighting a rare divide between Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.
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