Justice Dept. begins paying $17M to Hawaii jet fuel contamination victims

The Justice Department has begun issuing settlement payments to hundreds of plaintiffs who brought claims against the United States over a 2021 jet fuel contamination disaster at a Hawaii military base, the department announced.

The Civil Division issued payments to 629 plaintiffs in two consolidated cases — Feindt v. United States and Hughes v. United States — stemming from jet fuel spills at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the department said. Settlements totaling approximately $17 million were approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii on May 19, according to the announcement.

The claims were filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows individuals to sue the federal government for negligence. More than 6,500 such claims have been filed in connection with the 2021 spills, the department said.

“This Justice Department is proud to announce the efficient resolution of claims relating to the Red Hill jet fuel spills that harmed American servicemembers and their families,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement. “These latest settlements prove our commitment to ensuring justice for our Nation’s heroes who repeatedly risk greatly to safeguard our freedoms.”

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Civil Division called the payments part of the government’s “good faith efforts” to resolve the more than 6,500 claims arising from the 2021 spills. “The settlements represent a fair and just resolution of claims and we look forward to paying additional claims once they are approved,” Shumate said.

The litigation went to trial in 2024 after extensive discovery, with 17 plaintiffs taking their claims before a judge. Based on the trial results, the Civil Division has since reached settlements with approximately 3,600 civilian plaintiffs, including the 629 who have now received payment, the department said.

The Civil Division said it is continuing to process additional settlements and has filed several motions for approval that remain pending before the court or with the Treasury Department. More than 300 plaintiffs in the Feindt and Hughes cases have met all settlement criteria and need only provide a signed release, the department said.

An additional approximately 400 plaintiffs who accepted the government’s settlement offer as far back as October 2025 have yet to provide sufficient proof of eligibility, according to the announcement. The department said it will file for court approval and issue payments once those documents are submitted and the settlements are approved.