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2.0

Reported: DHS requests access to child support database with employment and family information

  1. Original Date Announced

    March 11, 2026

    ProPublica reports that DHS has requested unfettered access to the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), a comprehensive database maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) meant for finding individuals who owe child support. The FPLS consists of two primary components: (1) the National Directory of New Hires, which contains employment, salary, and Social Security information for every employed person in the country; and (2) the Federal Case Registry, which includes information relating to every child who is the subject of a state child support case, including the child's sex, DOB, and Social Security number, and family members' names and relationships.

    While federal law currently restricts the use of this database primarily to child support enforcement and a few narrow exceptions, DHS has argued that separate statutes granting law enforcement access to information on the identity and location of undocumented immigrants should override these privacy protections. The request is currently under review by the HHS General Counsel’s office.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #2248]

    2026.03.11 Reported: DHS Seeks Access to Massive Employment, Salary and Family Database Legally Restricted to Use in Child Support Cases - ProPublica
  2. Effective Date

    March 11, 2026

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Reported Proposed
Trump Administration Actions: Change in Practice Data and Reports
Subject Matter: Enforcement Interior
Agencies Affected: HHS DHS

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