RELEASE: HILL AND GOLDMAN INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT PUBLIC SERVANTS
Washington, D.C.,
April 27, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) and Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the Providing Resources and Oversight to Ensure Confidentiality of Those who serve (PROTECT) Act to strengthen data security and to prevent targeted threats against public officials. The bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and disseminate best practices for protecting the personally identifiable information (PII) of public servants across all levels of government. Congressman French Hill said, “Public servants sign up to better their country and communities. Unfortunately, more and more are becoming the targets of threats and harassment, and some have already been hurt, like my friend Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Others have been killed, as we saw in Minnesota with the horrific assassination of State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. “This past weekend, a would-be assassin targeted the president and administration officials. Yet while violence targeting politicians gets the most attention, this threat impacts public servants at every level, from local police officers and Border Patrol agents to county judges and game wardens. The PROTECT Act will give agencies at the state, local, and federal level the guidance they need to better protect the people who serve our communities.” Congressman Dan Goldman said, “In a time of rising political violence, bad actors are taking advantage of the wealth of online information to attack public figures. The bipartisan PROTECT Act will direct the DHS to provide guidance to public servants across government agencies with the best practices to protect themselves. Public servants should be able to serve those whom they represent while feeling safe and secure.” Background: Over the last ten years, public servants at every level of government have been increasingly targeted with violence, doxxing, and harassment enabled by the exposure of personal data, often in their own homes and communities. In 2017, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several colleagues were shot during a targeted attack at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2020, a gunman went to the home of federal Judge Esther Salas and killed her son, Daniel Anderl, who answered the door. In 2022, an armed man traveled to Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home intending to kill him after locating his address through public records. That same year, an intruder broke into the home of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and violently assaulted her husband. In 2025, an arsonist firebombed the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro while he and his family slept inside. And in 2025, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot by the same assailant the same night. In each case, the attacker knew where to find them. No public servant should have to wonder if their home address is the reason their family is in danger. However, there is currently no standardized, government-wide approach to protecting this information. By leveraging DHS expertise, this bill ensures that federal agencies and state and local governments across the country have access to clear, actionable guidance to better safeguard sensitive data and protect the individuals who serve their communities. What the PROTECT Act Does:
The Gap This Bill Fills There is currently no standardized, government-wide approach to protecting public servants’ personal data. Agencies often rely on inconsistent or outdated practices, leaving vulnerabilities that can be exploited. This bill equips agencies with actionable guidance so they can make informed, proactive decisions to reduce risk and prevent targeted violence. |
