This bill restricts access to Treasury payment and receipt systems by prohibiting access for non-federal employees, new hires under one year, contractors without continuous service, and those with conflicts of interest. It creates civil penalties of at least 250,000 dollars for violations and allows victims to sue.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S796-797)
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill restricts access to Treasury payment and receipt systems by prohibiting access for non-federal employees, new hires under one year, contractors without continuous service, and those with conflicts of interest. It creates civil penalties of at least 250,000 dollars for violations and allows victims to sue.
Last updated: 1/6/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Protecting Americans’ Privacy Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This 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.</p><p>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 is</p><ul><li>not a federal employee or federal contractor (with at least one year of continuous service);</li><li>a federal employee who holds a certain position within or is the board member of a business, organization, or institution;</li><li>in a civil service position for less than one year (continuously); or</li><li>an employee who meets certain other requirements and who has a conflict of interest or has not signed a written ethics agreement.</li></ul><p>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.</p><p>Finally, the bill provides that persons harmed by the unlawful access to such Treasury system may file a civil action for</p><ul><li>preliminary and other equitable or declaratory relief,</li><li>damages (the greater of $250,000 or actual damages),</li><li>punitive damages, and</li><li>attorney’s fees and litigation costs.</li></ul>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Restricts access to Treasury payment systems
Prohibits access for new federal employees under one year
Bars individuals with conflicts of interest
Creates 250,000 dollar minimum civil damages
Allows victims to sue for unlawful access
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Treasury payment systems would have stricter access controls. People harmed by unauthorized access could sue for substantial damages. This protects sensitive government financial data and tax information from inappropriate access.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Taxation
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
490, 119th Congress (2025). "Protecting Americans’ Privacy Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-490
