U.S. Court of Federal Claims

The United States Court of Federal Claims (CFC) is an Article I court established by Congress with nationwide jurisdiction over monetary claims brought against the federal government. Its lineage traces back to the Court of Claims created in 1855, reflecting the constitutional principle that individuals may not sue the sovereign without its consent, and that Congress must provide a judicial forum when waiving sovereign immunity. The Court of Federal Claims hears cases involving government contracts, takings of private property under the Fifth Amendment, federal tax refund suits, military and civilian pay disputes, Indian tribal claims, and other statutory claims for monetary relief. It does not possess general jurisdiction, nor does it adjudicate tort claims against the government, which are instead addressed under the Federal Tort Claims Act in district courts. Judges of the Court of Federal Claims are appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and serve 15-year renewable terms, consistent with its status as an Article I tribunal. Decisions of the CFC are appealable to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and ultimately may be reviewed by the Supreme Court of the United States. Functionally, the Court of Federal Claims provides a specialized and uniform forum for litigants seeking redress from the federal government, balancing the principle of sovereign immunity with the need for accountability, fairness, and the orderly resolution of monetary disputes.