H.R. 2136: Stopping High-level Record Elimination and Destruction Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Stopping High-level Record Elimination and Destruction Act of 2025, aims to address the handling of government records by imposing stricter penalties for certain actions taken by officers and employees within the Department of Justice and the intelligence community.

Key Provisions

• Title: The bill is officially titled the Stopping High-level Record Elimination and Destruction Act of 2025, or the SHRED Act of 2025.
• Enhanced Penalties: The bill proposes amendments to Section 2071 of Title 18 of the United States Code. It focuses on increasing penalties for individuals holding positions in the Department of Justice and the intelligence community who are found guilty of concealing, removing, or mutilating government records.
• Defined Offenses: Specifically, if an officer or employee commits these offenses, they would face imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years or possibly life in prison, along with fines.

Objective

The primary objective of the bill is to ensure accountability among high-ranking officials in charge of sensitive government records, thereby promoting transparency and proper preservation of important documents.

Enforcement

This legislation seeks to reinforce the legal framework surrounding the management of government records and aims to deter any potential misconduct that could threaten the integrity of such records.

Context

• The bill is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen laws regarding government records and to ensure that officials are held to high standards of conduct.
• By setting harsher penalties, the bill aims to discourage the unlawful destruction or alteration of critical governmental information.

Relevant Companies

None found