H.R. 1877: Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act
Sponsor
John Larson
Democrat · CT-1
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 5, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Keep political appointees out of your Social Security file
Why it matters
Your Social Security file holds your number, your lifetime earnings, and — if you've ever claimed benefits — your disability and payment records. H.R. 1877 would bar political appointees and temporary "special government employees" from the systems that store it, and let you sue for at least $5,000 if your records are improperly accessed or disclosed.
H.R. 1877 would bar two groups from the Social Security Administration's beneficiary data systems: political appointees, and "special government employees," a category for temporary or part-time federal workers. The bill names the systems directly — Numident (the master file of Social Security numbers), the Master Beneficiary Record, the SSI and Special Veterans Benefits records, the national disability determination file, and the earnings database.
If your information is negligently accessed or disclosed in violation of that ban, you could sue. You'd sue the United States if a federal employee did it, or the individual directly if they don't work for the government. Damages start at the greater of $5,000 per unauthorized act or your actual losses, and willful or grossly negligent conduct can add punitive damages on top, plus court costs and attorney's fees.
You'd have 2 years to file, counted from when you discover the access — not from when it happened. And if someone is criminally charged or faces discipline over your records, the SSA Commissioner would have to notify you, including the date your data was touched.
The bill also builds in oversight. The SSA Inspector General would have to investigate every violation and report to Congress within 30 days of learning about it, and the Government Accountability Office would send monthly updates plus a full review within a year. It would also lock SSA's privacy regulations as they stood on January 19, 2025 into law.
H.R. 1877 Bill Summary
What H.R. 1877 actually does.
Political appointees lose access to core SSA systems
H.R. 1877 would bar political appointees from accessing Social Security beneficiary data systems — the systems used to issue Social Security numbers, decide eligibility, pay benefits, or store personal information.
Temporary "special government employees" are blocked too
The same ban reaches special government employees, the category for temporary or part-time federal workers, so the restriction isn't limited to permanent political appointees.
Your major Social Security records are named outright
The bill specifically lists Numident, the Master Beneficiary Record, the SSI and Special Veterans Benefits records, the National Disability Determination Services File, the earnings system, and any other system reachable through SSA's Enterprise Data Warehouse.
Unauthorized access could cost at least $5,000 per act
If your data is negligently accessed or disclosed in violation of the bill, you could sue for the greater of $5,000 per unauthorized act or your actual damages. Willful or grossly negligent conduct adds punitive damages, plus costs and attorney's fees.
You get 2 years after discovery to sue
The filing window would run for 2 years after you discover the unauthorized access or disclosure, not from the date the violation happened — so a breach you learn about late doesn't run out the clock.
SSA would have to notify you when a case moves forward
The Commissioner would have to notify you as soon as practicable if someone is criminally charged over access to your records, or when a federal or state agency proposes disciplinary action, including the date your data was touched.
Congress gets reports within 30 days, then every month
The SSA Inspector General would have to investigate each violation and report to Congress within 30 days of learning about it. GAO would also send monthly interim reports and a final review within a year.
Who benefits from H.R. 1877?
People getting Social Security or SSI
Roughly 70 million people receive Social Security or SSI. Your payment and eligibility records would sit behind a stricter access wall, and you could sue if they're improperly accessed or disclosed.
Anyone with an SSN or earnings record on file
You don't have to be collecting benefits. The bill covers the systems that issue Social Security numbers and record earnings, so the protections reach workers decades before they ever file a claim.
People harmed by improper access
The bill creates a concrete remedy: at least $5,000 per unauthorized act, a 2-year window after you discover it, and attorney's fees if you win against the government.
Lawmakers and watchdogs tracking misuse
Oversight committees would get an Inspector General report within 30 days of a violation surfacing, plus monthly GAO updates and a final report within a year.
Who is affected by H.R. 1877?
Political appointees
They would be blocked from covered Social Security beneficiary data systems, even systems central to benefits, SSN records, or identity information.
Special government employees
Temporary or part-time federal personnel in this category would face the same access ban as political appointees.
The Social Security Administration
SSA would take on new duties: notifying affected people, preserving its existing privacy rules, and responding to Inspector General investigations and oversight reporting.
Anyone who mishandles the data
A federal employee or a private actor who negligently accesses or discloses protected information could face a civil suit. The math adds up fast — 10 unauthorized acts would mean at least $50,000 before fees.
HR1877 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Mar 5, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
About the Sponsor
John Larson
Democrat, Connecticut's 1st congressional district · 27 years in Congress
Committees: Ways and Means
View full profile →
Cosponsors (150)
All 150 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 35 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 32 more.
Richard Neal
Democrat · MA
Nydia Velázquez
Democrat · NY
Sanford Bishop
Democrat · GA
Seth Moulton
Democrat · MA
Christopher Deluzio
Democrat · PA
Jerrold Nadler
Democrat · NY
Rashida Tlaib
Democrat · MI
Danny Davis
Democrat · IL
Sara Jacobs
Democrat · CA
Raúl Grijalva
Democrat · AZ
Bennie Thompson
Democrat · MS
Jonathan Jackson
Democrat · IL
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Ways and Means Committee
16 of 45 committee members cosponsored
3 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 1877 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 1106 of Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1306)
adding after subsection (g) the following: ``(h) Access by Political Appointees and Special Government Employees
H.R. 1877 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Ways and Means
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Social Welfare
- Introduced
- Mar 5, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Mar 5, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act with status, text, and actions.
The bill amends 42 U.S.C. 1306, the core Social Security confidentiality statute governing disclosure of SSA information.
Section 5 of the bill preserves SSA privacy regulations in 20 CFR Part 401 as in effect on January 19, 2025.
The bill directs the Social Security Administration Inspector General to investigate violations and report them to Congress.
Official SSA program page for Supplemental Security Income, which is referenced through the SSI record covered by the bill.
The bill requires the Comptroller General and GAO to issue interim and final reports on the law’s effects and enforcement.
The bill uses the statutory definition of special government employee from 18 U.S.C. 202(a).
H.R. 1877 Common Questions
Can political appointees still access Social Security records under H.R. 1877?
No. H.R. 1877 would bar political appointees from the Social Security data systems that hold beneficiary information — including the files that issue SSNs, decide eligibility, and pay benefits.
What's a "special government employee" under H.R. 1877?
It's a federal worker hired for temporary or part-time service — generally 130 days or less in a year. H.R. 1877 would bar them, alongside political appointees, from Social Security beneficiary data systems.
How much could you recover if your Social Security data is accessed illegally?
At least $5,000 per unauthorized access or disclosure, or your actual damages if those are higher. Willful or grossly negligent conduct can add punitive damages on top, plus costs and attorney's fees.
Can you sue the federal government under H.R. 1877?
Yes. If a federal officer or employee negligently accesses or discloses your protected SSA information, the bill lets you sue the United States in federal court. If a non-government person did it, you'd sue them directly.
How long would you have to file a lawsuit?
You'd have 2 years after you discover the unauthorized access or disclosure — not 2 years from the day it happened. So a breach you find out about late doesn't run out the clock.
Which Social Security systems does H.R. 1877 cover?
It names Numident, the Master Beneficiary Record, the SSI and Special Veterans Benefits records, the disability determination file, the earnings system, and any other system reachable through SSA's data warehouse.
Would SSA have to tell you if someone is charged over your data?
Yes. The Commissioner would have to notify you as soon as practicable when someone is criminally charged for accessing or disclosing your records — including the date your data was touched.
Who investigates violations under H.R. 1877?
The SSA Inspector General. The bill says the IG must investigate each covered violation and report it to Congress within 30 days of becoming aware of it.
Based on H.R. 1877 bill text
H.R. 1877 Bill Text
“To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to establish that political appointees and special governments may not access beneficiary data systems, to establish civil penalties for certain violations relating to disclosure or access of beneficiary information, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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