H.R.es502 - Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretaries of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the development of a centralized database by the Federal government and Palantir Technologies Inc. that compiles American citizens’ personal information across Federal agencies and departments, including confidential taxpayer, identity, wage, child support, bank account, studen…
Summary
H.Res.502 is a resolution of inquiry directed to the President and the Secretaries of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services. It requests the transmission of documents to the House of Representatives concerning the development of a centralized database by the Federal government and Palantir Technologies Inc.
The database would compile American citizens' personal information across federal agencies, including sensitive data like taxpayer information, identity details, wage records, and medical history. The resolution seeks information on the database's purpose, potential uses, and the contracts under which Palantir Technologies Inc. is providing services.
The resolution was submitted in the House of Representatives on June 11, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Expected Effects
If passed, this resolution would compel the executive branch to provide detailed documentation regarding the development and intended use of the centralized database. This could lead to increased transparency and public scrutiny of the government's data collection and analysis practices.
It may also reveal the extent of private companies' involvement in handling sensitive citizen data. The information obtained could inform future legislation or oversight activities related to data privacy and government surveillance.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency regarding government data collection practices.
- Potential for improved oversight of government contracts with private technology companies.
- Opportunity for informed public debate on data privacy and civil liberties.
- Possible identification of potential misuse or abuse of personal information.
- Could lead to stronger data protection laws and regulations.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for exposing sensitive government information if documents are not properly redacted.
- Risk of hindering legitimate law enforcement or national security activities if the database is used for such purposes.
- Possible delays or obstruction from the executive branch in complying with the resolution.
- Could be used for political purposes to attack the executive branch or private companies.
- May create unnecessary administrative burden on the agencies involved.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution aligns with the principle of congressional oversight, which is implied in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution, granting legislative powers to Congress. Congress has the power to request information from the executive branch to perform its legislative duties effectively.
However, the resolution's potential impact on individual privacy could raise concerns under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The scope of the data collection and its potential uses would need to be carefully scrutinized to ensure constitutional compliance.
The resolution itself does not violate the constitution, but the actions it investigates could potentially do so.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).