Sponsors (3)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Last progress June 4, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 4, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn
Adds a new federal crime that makes it illegal to publicly disclose the name of a “Federal law enforcement officer” when the disclosure is done with the intent to obstruct a criminal investigation or an immigration enforcement operation. The change amends 18 U.S.C. §1510, defines who qualifies as a Federal law enforcement officer, and creates a penalty of a fine, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both, with conforming technical edits to related title and cross-references.
Amend Section 1510 of title 18, United States Code, by modifying the heading and adding a new subsection (f) titled “Releasing name of Federal law enforcement officer.”
Defines “Federal law enforcement officer” to mean any officer, agent, or employee of the United States authorized by law or by a Government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal criminal law or immigration law.
Makes it unlawful to make the name of a Federal law enforcement officer publicly available with the intent to obstruct a criminal investigation or immigration enforcement operation.
Any person who violates the prohibition in paragraph (2) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
Amend the table of sections for title 18 by striking the item relating to section 1510 and inserting an updated item (conforming the table of sections to the change in section 1510).
Updated 1 week ago
Last progress September 3, 2025 (5 months ago)
Primary effects will fall on federal law enforcement personnel, people who publish information about them, and platforms that host public disclosures. Federal law enforcement officers receive a statutory protection against intentional doxxing intended to obstruct criminal or immigration enforcement operations. Individuals who publish officers' names with the specified obstructive intent could be criminally prosecuted and face fines and up to five years in prison. Media organizations and platform operators may need to consider the statute when evaluating content that names officers if there is evidence of obstructive intent; platforms could receive takedown requests or subpoenas tied to investigations. Prosecutors will decide which cases meet the statute's intent standard; courts will resolve disputes over the mens rea element and any defenses. The amendment does not appropriate funds or create administrative duties for states or localities, but federal prosecutors and courts may allocate resources to investigate and litigate cases under the new offense. There is potential for litigation over how the intent requirement is proved and over First Amendment limits, which could affect enforcement practice, but the text itself is a straight criminal-law amendment without programmatic or funding changes.