Dear FAMMily,
We are excited to share that we’ve cleared yet another hurdle toward implementing the Federal Prison Oversight Act (FPOA).
As you know, this legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2024 to bring long-overdue transparency and accountability to the federal prison system through the creation of an independent Ombudsman and a new inspection framework. Since then, FAMM has been working tirelessly to secure federal funding to put these protections into action.
After months of negotiations and meetings with members of Congress, we’ve made meaningful progress. While this year’s appropriations bill did not include dedicated funding for FPOA, we successfully secured report language in both the House and Senate versions of the bill directing the Department of Justice to move forward with implementing the program. In short, Congress has made clear that the DOJ should start preparing to implement federal prison oversight, even as funding details are still being finalized. Last week President Trump signed H.R. 6938 into law and we feel confident about the next phase of this process.
This is very good news. It is often difficult for new programs to receive funding or even supportive language in their first year. Given today’s tight budgets, government funding fights, and the ongoing threat of shutdowns, getting clear direction to move forward is a significant step that positions us well to secure full funding in the next budget cycle. It shows continued bipartisan support and keeps implementation on track.
FAMM will continue working closely with Congress and the Department of Justice to move from planning to action and to ensure the funding needed to fully launch this oversight system is secured. We remain committed to delivering the accountability, safety, and transparency that incarcerated people, correctional staff, and families deserve.
We’ll keep you posted as this work continues.
Very truly yours,
