Settlement authority refers to the Attorney General's statutory power to compromise or settle litigation involving the United States. Under 28 U.S.C. 516-519, the Attorney General supervises all litigation in which the United States is a party. For settlements exceeding certain thresholds, DOJ guidelines require approval from senior officials. The Attorney General's settlement authority extends only to matters referred to DOJ for prosecution or defense. Settlement authority can't be used to resolve issues outside the scope of the underlying lawsuit. When combined with the Judgment Fund's permanent appropriation, settlement authority allows the executive branch to direct significant taxpayer spending without direct congressional approval for each payment.