H.R. 6403 – Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2022

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:53 AM UTC

The Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2022 changes how the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons is chosen. It requires the President to nominate the director and the Senate to confirm the appointment, and it establishes a fixed ten‑year term for the position. The bill affects the director, the Bureau of Prisons staff, and the broader Department of Justice by adding Senate oversight to this high‑budget, high‑responsibility role.

Key Provisions

The director of the Bureau of Prisons must be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, instead of being appointed directly by the Attorney General.
The director will serve a ten‑year term and may serve only one term, though they may remain in office until a successor is confirmed.
The current director at the time the law takes effect may continue in the role for up to three months after enactment.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

November 1, 2022

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 13, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 13, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

November 1, 2022

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 13, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6403

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 13, 2022

Mr. Keller (for himself, Mr. Trone, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Issa, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Bost, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Van Drew, and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2022.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

The Director of the Bureau of Prisons leads a law enforcement component of the Department of Justice with a budget that exceeded $7,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.

(2)

With the exception of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Prisons had the largest operating budget of any unit within the Department of Justice for fiscal year 2018.

(3)

As of 2019, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons oversaw 122 facilities and was responsible for the welfare of more than 176,000 Federal inmates.

(4)

As of 2019, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons supervised more than 36,000 employees, many of whom operate in hazardous environments that involve regular interaction with violent offenders.

(5)

Within the Department of Justice, in addition to those officials who oversee litigating components, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Director of the Community Relations Service, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Director of the United States Marshals Service, 94 United States Marshals, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, and the Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices, are all appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(6)

Despite the significant budget of the Bureau of Prisons and the vast number of people under the responsibility of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, the Director is not appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

3.

Director of the Bureau of Prisons

(a)

In general

Section 4041 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking appointed by and serving directly under the Attorney General. and inserting the following: who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall serve directly under the Attorney General..

(b)

Incumbent

Notwithstanding the amendment made by subsection (a), the individual serving as the Director of the Bureau of Prisons on the date of enactment of this Act may serve as the Director of the Bureau of Prisons until the date that is 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the ability of the President to appoint the individual serving as the Director of the Bureau of Prisons on the date of enactment of this Act to the position of Director of the Bureau of Prisons in accordance with section 4041 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).

(d)

Term

(1)

In general

Section 4041 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), is amended by inserting after consent of the Senate. the following: The Director shall be appointed for a term of 10 years, except that an individual appointed to the position of Director may continue to serve in that position until another individual is appointed to that position, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. An individual may not serve more than 1 term as Director..

(2)

Applicability

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to appointments made on or after the date of enactment of this Act.