H.R. 8587: Safeguarding Honest Speech Act of 2026

The bill known as the "Safeguarding Honest Speech Act of 2026" aims to restrict the use of federal funds in certain circumstances. Specifically, it prohibits the implementation, administration, or enforcement of any rules or policies that require federal employees or contractors to use preferred pronouns that do not align with an individual's sex or to refer to individuals by names that are not their legal names.

No Federal Funds for Compelled Language

Under this legislation, federal agencies and departments are explicitly barred from using any funds for the purpose of:

• Mandating the use of a person's preferred pronouns if those pronouns contradict the person's biological sex.
• Referring to an individual by any name other than their legal name.

Enforcement Procedures

The bill outlines specific enforcement mechanisms, which include:

• Agencies must respond formally within 30 days to any employee or contractor who reports a violation of the law.
• Employees or contractors who feel wronged by a violation can initiate a civil lawsuit against the federal agency involved.

Possible Court Remedies

If the court finds in favor of the employee or contractor, it can grant various forms of relief, such as:

• Injunctive relief to prevent further violations.
• Compensatory damages to cover losses incurred.
• Punitive damages, capped at $100,000, to penalize the federal agency.
• Reimbursement for reasonable attorney's fees incurred during the legal process.

Statute of Limitations

Any legal action under this bill must be filed within one year from when the alleged violation occurred.

Definitions

The bill provides clear definitions for key terms:

• Female: Refers to someone with the reproductive system that produces eggs.
• Male: Refers to someone with the reproductive system that produces sperm.
• Sex: Refers to biological sex, indicating either male or female.
• Person: Refers to an individual human being.

Relevant Companies

None found