The Privacy Act of 1974 governs how federal agencies collect, use, and share personal information — but it was written before the digital age. This bill would modernize it significantly: expanding what counts as a "record" to include any personally identifiable information, broadening who's protected to include all people in the U.S. (not just citizens and permanent residents), increasing penalties for misuse up to $250,000 and 10 years in prison, and allowing punitive damages in lawsuits. Notably, certain provisions would take effect immediately for DOGE and related entities, while the rest of the government gets a two-year transition.
Congressional Summary
This bill strengthens privacy protections that apply to personal data held or maintained by government agencies. These protections restrict the storage, access, use, and disclosure of personal data, such as an individual’s name or Social Security number.Currently, these protections apply to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The bill expands this to include natural persons in the United States and certain associations and corporations. The bill places additional limits on the use and disclosure of such data, including by limiting the use of records to a legally authorized purpose and requiring disclosures to be minimal and consistent with a previously stated use.The bill also increases existing penalties and creates additional criminal penalties for violations. For example, under the bill, an agency employee who willfully discloses individually identifiable information with the intent to sell, transfer, use, or disclose such information for commercial advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm shall be guilty of a felony and fined not more than $250,000, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.Courts may provide preliminary relief and, if the U.S. is found to have acted intentionally or willfully, the U.S. is liable for additional types of damages (e.g., punitive).The bill generally takes effect two years after the date of enactment. However, the bill takes effect immediately upon enactment with respect to certain actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), certain special or temporary employees, and other related individuals and organizations.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-03-31
- Date Added
- 2026-04-15
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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