Some Justice Department and intelligence workers could get much tougher prison terms for hiding or destroying government records. The minimum sentence would be 20 years, and the maximum would be life in prison. The bill does not change the basic crime itself.
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SHRED Act of 2025 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Latest action on H.R. 2136: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects Justice Department workers and intelligence community employees who handle government records. Those workers could face far steeper criminal penalties if they are convicted of hiding, removing, or destroying records covered by federal law. Judges would also be affected because the bill would limit how low they can sentence covered workers. Agencies that rely on sensitive records for investigations, prosecutions, and national security work could also feel the effects.
Why this matters: This bill matters because government records can be crucial to criminal cases, oversight, and national security work, and this bill would punish some record-related crimes much more harshly. Justice Department and intelligence employees often handle especially sensitive files, so changes to their penalties could affect how they manage those records. Supporters may believe tougher punishments would better protect evidence and official documents. Critics may worry that a 20-year minimum is too extreme and gives judges too little flexibility, especially in disputed or unusual cases.
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