The federal government is generally immune from lawsuits under the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity, which means it cannot be sued unless it explicitly consents to be. However, there are key exceptions:
1. Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) – Allows individuals to sue the federal government for certain torts (e.g., negligence) committed by federal employees acting within the scope of their employment.
2. Administrative Procedure Act (APA) – Permits lawsuits challenging federal agency actions that violate statutory or constitutional rights.
3. Constitutional Violations (Bivens Claims) – Individuals may sue federal officials (but not the government itself) for constitutional rights violations.
4. Contract Disputes – Under the Contract Disputes Act, contractors can sue the government for breaches of federal contracts.
5. Civil Rights & Discrimination Cases – Certain statutes, like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, allow federal employees to sue for employment discrimination.
Suits against the federal government must follow strict procedural rules, including filing claims within specific time limits.
