Senator Jon Ossoff and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have announced bipartisan legislation aimed at increasing oversight of federal prisons.
The Federal Prison Accountability Act of 2023 would require the president to consult with members of the Senate when appointing the Bureau of Prisons Director, and would limit the BOP director’s tenure to a single, 10-year term, according to a release from Sen. Ossoff.
Unlike most U.S Department of Justice administrators and directors, the BOP Director is appointed not by the president but by the U.S Attorney General, without Senate consideration. Sponsors of the bill say it would bring greater accountability to a role that oversees 34,000 employees and a multi-billion-dollar budget.
