Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025 changes how the Director of the Bureau of Prisons is chosen. It requires the President to appoint the Director with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director will serve a term of 10 years and is limited to a single term in the position. Under these new rules, the Director still serves directly under the Attorney General. Current incumbents may continue serving for up to three months after the act is passed.
Yes
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The requirement for Senate confirmation brings the appointment of the Bureau of Prisons Director under greater public and legislative scrutiny.
- Scored +3
Does this change how police departments operate?
The bill introduces Senate advice and consent for the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, increasing legislative oversight of the federal prison system.
- Scored +2
Would union members be better off under this?
The establishment of a fixed 10-year term for the Director may provide increased leadership stability for the 35,000 employees supervised by the agency.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Senate Oversight: By requiring the Director to be appointed with the "advice and consent of the Senate," the bill brings the position in line with other major Department of Justice officials (Section 2, Finding 5; Section 3, subsection a). This provides a layer of Senate approval for the person leading a unit with a budget exceeding $8,390,000,000 (Section 2, Finding 1; Section 2, Finding 6).
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Leadership Stability: The bill establishes a 10-year term for the Director, which may provide stability for the more than 35,000 employees and the 122 facilities they oversee (Section 2, Finding 3; Section 2, Finding 4; Section 3, subsection d).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The requirement for Senate confirmation brings the appointment of the Bureau of Prisons Director under greater public and legislative scrutiny.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill introduces Senate advice and consent for the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, increasing legislative oversight of the federal prison system.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — The establishment of a fixed 10-year term for the Director may provide increased leadership stability for the 35,000 employees supervised by the agency.
- 3/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Rand PaulRepublican · Kentucky