Norton, Ruppersberger Introduce Bill to Provide Lifetime Identity Protection Coverage to Federal Employees Affected by OPM Data Breaches

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today introduced the Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act, or the RECOVER Act, to provide free lifetime identity protection coverage to current, former and prospective federal employees and contractors whose personal information was compromised by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breaches in 2015. Following the data breaches, Congress approved a version of this bill as part of an appropriations bill. However, Congress has only required OPM to provide identity protection coverage to affected individuals through fiscal year 2026. The Norton-Ruppersberger bill would require OPM to provide the coverage for the remainder of the life of the affected individuals.

"We got some identity protection for federal workers and contractors impacted by the data breach as a first step, but only lifetime identity protection will give these workers the peace of mind they deserve," Norton said. "Because there is no limit to the duration on when the compromised personal information can be used, Congress must protect these federal employees and contractors in perpetuity."

"The federal workers impacted by the OPM breach are victims. Their personal security was jeopardized through no fault of their own and the records stolen by hackers have no shelf life. The identity theft protection offered to these victims shouldn't, either," Ruppersberger said. "I am proud to once again support this effort to help provide these hard-working men and women with the protections they need and deserve forever."

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