Protecting Americans’ Privacy Act of 2025
Protecting Americans’ Privacy Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Protecting Americans' Privacy Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would restrict who can access the Treasury Department's financial systems that handle government money and payments. Specifically, it would make it illegal for certain people to access or control these systems, including those who aren't federal employees, federal employees in their first year of service, employees with conflicts of interest, and federal employees who hold positions in private businesses or organizations. The bill also would prevent the disclosure of tax return information through these Treasury systems to unauthorized individuals. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects federal employees and contractors working with the Treasury Department and Bureau of Fiscal Service.
It's designed to protect government financial systems and taxpayer information from inappropriate access by people with potential conflicts of interest or insufficient security clearance. **Current Status:** As of now, the bill (S 490) is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Protecting Americans’ Privacy Act of 2025This bill makes it unlawful for certain individuals to access or exercise administrative control over any Department of the Treasury public money receipt or payment system. The bill also makes it unlawful to disclose return or return information to certain individuals by means of access to such Treasury system.Under the bill, it is unlawful for an individual to knowingly access or exercise administrative control over any Treasury (including the Bureau of Fiscal Service) public money receipt or payment system if the individual isnot a federal employee or federal contractor (with at least one year of continuous service);a federal employee who holds a certain position within or is the board member of a business, organization, or institution;in a civil service position for less than one year (continuously); oran employee who meets certain other requirements and who has a conflict of interest or has not signed a written ethics agreement.The bill also makes it unlawful to (1) facilitate access to or administrative control over any Treasury public money receipt or payment system to such individuals, or (2) disclose return or return information to such individuals by means of access to such Treasury system.Finally, the bill provides that persons harmed by the unlawful access to such Treasury system may file a civil action forpreliminary and other equitable or declaratory relief,damages (the greater of $250,000 or actual damages),punitive damages, andattorney’s fees and litigation costs.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S796-797)