The nomination process for the director position at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would be changed under a bipartisan bill introduced on June 14 by U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) that would require a presidential appointment and a confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
Rep. Thompson sponsored the Federal Prisons Accountability Act, H.R. 4138, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-MD), which also would limit the BOP director to a single term of 10 years, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“The Federal Bureau of Prisons plays a critical public safety role. It is important the director and the bureau remain transparent and responsive to members of Congress and the public at large,” Rep. Thompson said. “The Federal Prisons Accountability Act will ensure the leadership of the Bureau of Prisons remains accountable.”
The BOP is the U.S. Justice Department’s largest agency, having roughly 37,500 employees, an annual budget of nearly $8 billion, and more than 150,000 inmates.
However, the BOP is the only Justice Department agency where the director is appointed by the U.S. Attorney General, there is no required Senate confirmation, and the position doesn’t have a term limit, the summary says.
“The Federal Prisons Accountability Act ensures that this vital and powerful position is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, allowing members of Congress to properly evaluate who’s responsible for the hundreds of thousands of incarcerated people within the Bureau of Prisons,” said Rep. Trone.
The Council of Prison Locals endorsed H.R. 4138, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.