Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act
The Protecting Agricultural Borrower Information Act would add a new privacy protection to the law governing Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans and payments. Specifically, it would make it unlawful for the Secretary of Agriculture or any FSA officer or employee to disclose information provided by an applicant or recipient of a loan or benefit to special government employees or to government detailees assigned to the FSA. There are limited exceptions for disclosures in aggregate (non-identifiable) form, or disclosures with the provider’s consent when the consent isn’t a condition of participation in a program. Violations carry penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and/or up to one year in prison. The bill was introduced in the House on September 4, 2025 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Key Points
- 1Adds new privacy protections (7 U.S.C. 1989, Sec. 339(f)) for information provided under the Farm Service Agency loan/benefit programs.
- 2Prohibits disclosure of such information to special government employees (SGEs) and to government detailees assigned to the FSA.
- 3Exempts disclosures that are in statistical/aggregate form that does not identify the provider, and disclosures with the provider’s consent if the consent is not tied to program participation.
- 4Establishes penalties for knowing violations: up to $10,000 fine, up to 1 year imprisonment, or both.
- 5Applies to information provided by applicants or recipients of loans or payments under the Act, and sets limits on who can receive that information and under what circumstances.