Press ReleaseBipartisan2026-02-17

Trahan Unveils Report Outlining Bipartisan Path to Update the Privacy Act

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This press release from Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA) was published on 2026-02-17 and titled "Trahan Unveils Report Outlining Bipartisan Path to Update the Privacy Act". It focuses on taxes and touches on the environment.

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Trahan Unveils Report Outlining Bipartisan Path to Update the Privacy Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) released a new staff report titled Privacy, Trust, and Effective Government: A Bipartisan Blueprint for Modernizing the Privacy Act . The report was developed following extensive stakeholder input submitted in response to a Request for Information (RFI) Trahan circulated in 2025 examining potential updates to the Privacy Act of 1974. The report comes amid growing concerns about the federal government’s handling of Americans’ sensitive personal data, including recent incidents that have exposed weaknesses in existing privacy protections and oversight mechanisms. “The Privacy Act was written for a world of file cabinets and mainframe computers, not one defined by cloud storage, data brokers, and AI,” said Congresswoman Trahan . “Americans should be able to trust that their personal information is handled responsibly by their government. This report lays out practical, commonsense updates to strengthen privacy protections, restore public trust, and ensure the federal government can operate effectively in the digital age.” The staff report outlines a bipartisan framework to modernize the Privacy Act of 1974, including recommendations to: Strengthen limits on the collection, use, and sharing of Americans’ sensitive personal data. Update definitions and safeguards to reflect modern systems, technologies, and practices. Improve transparency so individuals can understand how their data is used by the federal government. Enhance oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse of personal information. Bolster enforcement to ensure timely and meaningful redress when abuse occurs. Right-size requirements to promote compliance while enabling effective government operations. Enacted more than 50 years ago, the Privacy Act of 1974 has not kept pace with the scale, speed, or complexity of how the federal government now collects and uses personal data. As agencies increasingly rely on digital systems and third-party contractors, outdated protections leave Americans vulnerable to privacy abuses while hindering responsible data processing and eroding trust in government. The report is intended to inform bipartisan, bicameral efforts to modernize federal privacy law and ensure that government data practices meet the expectations of the American people in the 21st century. A copy of the report released today can be accessed HERE . This report is the latest step in Trahan’s push for government privacy reform. Its release follows efforts Trahan has led regarding DOGE’s alleged mishandling of Americans’ sensitive data housed in the Treasury Department’s payment system and separately at the National Labor Relations Board and Department of Interior . Trahan has similarly led House Democrats in investigating the Trump Administration’s data consolidation efforts at key benefits agencies . In March 2025, Trahan issued her RFI to rewrite the Privacy Act for the first time since its passage in 1974. ###

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Trahan Unveils Report Outlining Bipartisan Path to Update the Privacy Act WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) released a new staff report titled Privacy, Trust, and Effective Government: A Bipartisan Blueprint for Modernizing the Privacy Act . The report was developed following extensive stakeholder input submitted in response to a Request for Information (RFI) Trahan circulated in 2025 examining potential updates to the Privacy Act of 1974. The report comes amid growing concerns about the federal government’s handling of Americans’ sensitive personal data, including recent incidents that have exposed weaknesses in existing privacy protections and oversight mechanisms. “The Privacy Act was written for a world of file cabinets and mainframe computers, not one defined by cloud storage, data brokers, and AI,” said Congresswoman Trahan . “Americans should be able to trust that their personal information is handled responsibly by their government. This report lays out practical, commonsense updates to strengthen privacy protections, restore public trust, and ensure the federal government can operate effectively in the digital age.” The staff report outlines a bipartisan framework to modernize the Privacy Act of 1974, including recommendations to: Strengthen limits on the collection, use, and sharing of Americans’ sensitive personal data. Update definitions and safeguards to reflect modern systems, technologies, and practices. Improve transparency so individuals can understand how their data is used by the federal government. Enhance oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse of personal information. Bolster enforcement to ensure timely and meaningful redress when abuse occurs. Right-size requirements to promote compliance while enabling effective government operations. Enacted more than 50 years ago, the Privacy Act of 1974 has not kept pace with the scale, speed, or complexity of how the federal government now collects and uses personal data. As agencies increasingly rely on digital systems and third-party contractors, outdated protections leave Americans vulnerable to privacy abuses while hindering responsible data processing and eroding trust in government. The report is intended to inform bipartisan, bicameral efforts to modernize federal privacy law and ensure that government data practices meet the expectations of the American people in the 21st century. A copy of the report released today can be accessed HERE . This report is the latest step in Trahan’s push for government privacy reform. Its release follows efforts Trahan has led regarding DOGE’s alleged mishandling of Americans’ sensitive data housed in the Treasury Department’s payment system and separately at the National Labor Relations Board and Department of Interior . Trahan has similarly led House Democrats in investigating the Trump Administration’s data consolidation efforts at key benefits agencies . In March 2025, Trahan issued her RFI to rewrite the Privacy Act for the first time since its passage in 1974. ###