Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025 would change how the Director of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is selected and how long they can serve. The bill would require the President to appoint the BOP Director with the advice and consent of the Senate (i.e., Senate confirmation), rather than the Director being appointed by and serving directly under the Attorney General as under current law. It also establishes a 10-year single term for the Director, with a prohibition on serving more than one term. The act allows the current Director to continue in office for up to three months after enactment and clarifies that the President could still appoint the current Director to the position under the new framework. The bill is named the Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025 and cites the BOP’s large budget and scope as part of the rationale for Senate-confirmed leadership.
Key Points
- 1Appointment method change: The Director of the Bureau of Prisons would be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, rather than being appointed by and serving directly under the Attorney General. The Director would still serve directly under the Attorney General.
- 2Term limits: The Director would serve a single term of 10 years. An individual may not serve more than one term.
- 3Incumbent transition: The current Director may remain in office for up to three months after enactment to facilitate the transition.
- 4Applicability: The new appointment process and term restrictions would apply to appointments made on or after the date of enactment.
- 5Alignment with other DOJ leadership: The bill notes that other major DOJ leadership positions (e.g., FBI Director, DEA Administrator, U.S. Marshals Service leadership, etc.) are appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, aligning the BOP Director with these positions.