ReportScams.gov Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
- Committees
- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 15, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to centralize and enhance federal efforts to combat scams through coordinated action, public education, and a unified reporting portal.
What it actually does
This bill establishes a Federal Government priority goal to reduce scams, creates an interagency Scams Steering Committee, and mandates the development of a Federal Scams Action Plan. It also directs the creation of a secure, centralized public website, reportscams.gov, for scam prevention, reporting, and victim assistance. Additionally, the bill provides interagency transfer authority and expedited direct hire authority to support these federal efforts.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill provides a much-needed comprehensive and coordinated federal response to the growing problem of scams, which cost Americans billions annually. They contend that a centralized website and interagency committee will improve public awareness, streamline reporting, and enhance enforcement, ultimately protecting vulnerable populations and reducing financial losses.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that while the intent is good, establishing another committee and website could lead to bureaucratic bloat and duplication of existing efforts by agencies like the FTC and FBI. They might also question the effectiveness of a single portal given the diverse nature of scams and the various agencies already involved, suggesting it might create confusion or delay.
The bill is relatively concise and well-structured, allowing an informed reader to understand its core provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 3(a)
Establishment of Federal Government Priority Goal to Reduce Scams
This provision requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a Federal Government-wide priority goal focused on reducing scams affecting people in the United States. It also mandates the identification of goal leaders, including the Deputy Director for Management at OMB and at least one Deputy Secretary (or equivalent) from a lead federal department involved in addressing scams.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a formal, government-wide priority goal elevates the issue of scams, ensuring sustained attention and resource allocation across relevant federal agencies. This structured approach is essential for tackling a pervasive and evolving threat.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against establishing a priority goal, as it is seen as a foundational step for any coordinated effort. Potential concerns might revolve around the effectiveness of such goals without sufficient funding or enforcement.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies in ensuring the goal translates into concrete, measurable actions rather than remaining a symbolic gesture, requiring robust leadership and interagency cooperation.
Section 3(b)
Establishment of Interagency Scams Steering Committee
This section directs the OMB Director to establish an interagency Scams Steering Committee, co-chaired by the goal leaders. The committee will comprise representatives from key federal agencies involved in combating scams, including the Department of Justice, FBI, FTC, DHS, Treasury, and others, to foster collaboration and shared strategy development.
Section 3(c)
Development of Federal Scams Action Plan
The Scams Steering Committee is tasked with developing a Federal Scams Action Plan within 180 days. This plan must include a uniform government-wide definition of scams, a classification standard, an initial baseline estimate of scam numbers and costs, an ambitious 4-year reduction target, and strategies for prevention, investigation, perpetrator accountability, and victim support.
Section 3(d)
Establishment of ReportScams.gov Website and Reporting Portal
This provision mandates the Scams Steering Committee to establish a secure, centralized, publicly accessible website, reportscams.gov, within one year. This website will serve as the primary federal hub for scam prevention resources, victim assistance information, and a single portal for reporting scams, routing reports to appropriate federal and state authorities.
Section 3(e)
Public Awareness Campaign for ReportScams.gov
Upon the establishment of the reportscams.gov website, the Scams Steering Committee is required to launch a public awareness campaign to communicate its existence and encourage its use by the general public.
Section 4
Quarterly Progress Reviews and Congressional Notification
This section mandates quarterly progress reviews and updates to the Federal Scams Action Plan, to be submitted to Performance.gov. The Director must also publish these updates on reportscams.gov and transmit them to relevant congressional committees, ensuring transparency and accountability for federal scam reduction efforts.
Section 5
Comprehensive Annual Report on Scams
The Scams Steering Committee is required to publicly publish and submit an annual report to Congress, starting one year after enactment. This report must include detailed data on reported scams (number, type, financial loss, demographics), trends, summaries of large-scale federal investigations, and regulatory and legislative recommendations. Sensitive material may be redacted.
Section 6(b)
Interagency Transfer Authority for Scams Priority Goal Activities
This provision allows agencies represented on the Scams Steering Committee to transfer up to $10,000,000 per fiscal year to another such agency to support activities related to the Scams Priority Goal. These transfers require OMB approval, must be for the same purpose as the original appropriation, and are treated as intra-governmental reimbursable transactions.
Section 6(c)
Expedited Direct Hire Authority for Critical Scams-Related Positions
This section grants agencies on the Scams Steering Committee expedited direct-hire authority for positions critical to carrying out the committee's duties, such as data analysis, cybersecurity, financial crime analysis, and user experience design specialists. This authority is temporary (5 years) and limited to GS-15 level or below.
Allows agencies on the Scams Steering Committee to transfer up to $10 million per fiscal year to another committee agency for activities related to the Scams Priority Goal, with OMB approval. This bypasses typical restrictions on interagency transfers (31 U.S.C. 1532).
Section 6(b)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for granting specific administrative flexibilities. It's not intentionally evasive but requires attention to detail to understand the financial implications.
Case for: Proponents argue this flexibility is crucial for rapid resource deployment and adaptation in the face of evolving scam threats, enabling agencies to pool resources for shared technological or analytical capabilities without needing new appropriations.
Case against: Critics might argue that such transfer authority, even with OMB approval, reduces congressional oversight over specific agency spending decisions, potentially allowing funds to be used in ways not originally intended by appropriators.
Estimated impact: Potentially up to $10 million in flexible funding transfers per agency per fiscal year, enabling more agile interagency projects.
Grants agencies on the Scams Steering Committee direct-hire authority for specific critical positions (e.g., data analysis, cybersecurity) for a period of 5 years, up to GS-15 level.
Section 6(c)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for granting specific hiring flexibilities to address critical needs. It's not evasive but requires familiarity with federal personnel management.
Case for: Supporters contend that this authority is essential to quickly staff specialized roles vital for combating sophisticated cyber-enabled scams, as traditional federal hiring processes are often too slow to compete for top talent.
Case against: Opponents of broad direct-hire authorities often argue they can undermine merit system principles, reduce transparency in hiring, and potentially lead to less diverse applicant pools if not carefully managed.
Estimated impact: Enables faster hiring of specialized personnel across multiple agencies, potentially improving the technical capabilities of the federal anti-scam effort.