DOGE BROS Act
The DOGE BROS Act is a introduced Senate bill that seeks to substantially raise penalties for a range of federal data privacy and information-security violations. By increasing civil fines under the Privacy Act, boosting fines for unauthorized access to federal information (including computer hacking), and enhancing penalties for unauthorized disclosures of data held by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, tax information, and census data, the bill aims to deter data breaches and improper disclosures. It also creates a higher maximum penalty for individuals who obtain information from U.S. departments or agencies through unauthorized computer access. As an introduced measure, it would not become law unless enacted by Congress and signed by the President, and it has not yet advanced through committees.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The act is named the Defending Our Government's Electronic Data: Bolstering Responsible Oversight and Safeguards Act, or the DOGE BROS Act.
- 2Privacy Act penalties increased: Section 2 raises civil penalties under 5 U.S.C. 552a(i) from $5,000 to $30,000 for three specified violations.
- 3Higher fines for obtaining information from federal agencies: Section 3 adds a new subsection (k) to 18 U.S.C. 1030, setting an individual fine of up to $750,000 for certain offenses (unauthorized obtaining of information from a federal department or agency).
- 4SSA/HHS disclosure penalties increased: Section 4 raises the maximum fine for unauthorized disclosures of information held by the Social Security Administration or the Department of Health and Human Services from $10,000 to $25,000.
- 5Tax information disclosure penalties increased: Section 5 increases multiple penalties under 26 U.S.C. 7213(a) from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation.
- 6Census data disclosure penalties increased: Section 6 raises the penalty for wrongful disclosure of Census data under 13 U.S.C. 214 from $5,000 to $25,000.
- 7Status and sponsorship: Introduced in the Senate on May 20, 2025 by a cross‑party group of senators; referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.