Homeland Security can now investigate disaster fraud without telling you about it

The US Department of Homeland Security has changed its rules for investigating fraud related to federal disaster funds. It can now keep records of these investigations secret from the people being investigated.

The Privacy Act of 1974 generally gives people the right to know what information the government holds about them. This change means that if you are investigated for misusing disaster funds, the government does not have to tell you or let you see the records. This makes it harder for individuals to challenge accusations or understand why they are being investigated.