Congress demands a complete map of federal crimes—for the first time
H.R. 2159 — Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2025 · Filed by Chip Roy (R-TX) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 14, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill requires the Attorney General and 34 federal agencies to compile and publish a comprehensive, publicly accessible index of all federal criminal offenses—both statutory crimes and regulatory violations enforceable by criminal penalty—within two years. The index must include the elements, penalties, mens rea (intent) requirements, and prosecution/referral history for each offense over the preceding 15 years. The bill creates transparency about the federal criminal code but does not change any laws, penalties, or enforcement practices.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is mandating disclosure of existing federal criminal offenses and regulatory violations. It is a transparency and accountability tool, not a substantive change to criminal law or enforcement policy.
What the text implies
- The 15-year prosecution/referral history may reveal enforcement disparities or selective prosecution patterns, potentially creating political pressure for enforcement changes.
- Indexing all criminal regulatory offenses may expose the scope and complexity of the federal criminal code to public scrutiny, potentially fueling deregulation arguments.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Citizens gain transparency into the federal criminal code—a genuine public good that enables informed civic participation and legal awareness. The bill imposes no new restrictions on rights, creates no new criminal liability, and does not shield wrongdoing.