Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers' Benefit Program Expansion Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill requires the federal Bureau administering public safety officer death and disability benefits to notify families within 90 days of any missing paperwork and issue a final decision within 270 days once all information is received.
• If the Bureau misses the 270-day deadline, it must make a one-time interim payment to the family or a secure account, which will later be credited against the final benefit but generally cannot be clawed back.
• The Bureau now must use subpoenas to force local police and fire agencies to turn over records needed to process a claim if they don't respond within 30 days, with only a limited 60-day extension allowed.
• For 9/11 responders, the bill requires the Bureau to automatically approve federal death benefit claims once the Victim Compensation Fund or World Trade Center Health Program certifies the death is linked to 9/11, unless there is strong evidence otherwise.
• The Attorney General must ensure the Bureau of Justice Assistance implements GAO's 2024 recommendations on fixing claims backlogs and improving program transparency within 180 days of enactment, and the Comptroller General must audit backlogged claims annually going forward.