Owe the Feds? Your Name Could Go Public in New Debt-Shaming Rules
Published Date: 8/22/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you owe the government money and haven’t paid up, your name might be shared publicly to help collect the debt. Federal agencies will now follow clear rules about when and how to share this info, making the process fair and consistent. This change helps speed up debt collection while protecting your rights.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
You may be publicly named for overdue federal debt
If you owe a delinquent nontax debt to the United States, your identity may be publicly shared to help collect that debt. The rule says Federal agencies can disseminate the identity of persons owing such debts under the authority of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.
Agencies must follow set procedures before naming debtors
The Treasury proposes a rule that would require Federal agencies to follow minimum procedures and standards before publicly sharing the identity of a delinquent debtor. These procedures are meant to make the decision to use public naming fairer and more consistent across agencies.
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Key Dates
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