Bill · S. 5000· Senate(119-S-5000)
Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act
- Introduced
- 7/15/2026
- Last activity
- 7/15/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Lee
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Cyber Letters of Marque and Reprisal Act authorizes the President to commission private persons and entities to carry out limited cyberspace operations against designated foreign cyberthreats. These private actors can use offensive tools to disrupt, degrade, or seize assets located outside the United States. The goal is to deter cyberattacks, stop illicit networks, and recover stolen funds for American victims. The bill includes a bounty system for those who recover assets and provides legal protection from liability for authorized acts.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+7
Specifically mentions protecting seniors who are disproportionately harmed by crypto-scams.
Would retired people be better off under this?+7
Aims to recover stolen life savings from cyber-enabled fraud.
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+6
Authorizes offensive operations to disrupt and degrade foreign cyberthreats.
The opposite
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?-6
Provides immunity from liability for authorized acts, removing legal recourse for affected parties.
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?-3
Authorizing private offensive cyber operations against foreign entities could strain diplomatic relations.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-2
Private contractors may operate with less transparency than government agencies.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Recovery of Stolen Funds: The bill aims to facilitate the return of stolen funds to American victims of cyber-enabled crime (Section 3).
- Protection of Vulnerable Populations: The bill addresses the fact that seniors and other vulnerable populations are disproportionately harmed by crypto-enabled scams and theft (Section 2).
- Funding for Crime Victims: Any recovered funds not used for bounties are deposited into the Crime Victims Fund (Section 5(f)(3)).
- Rewards for Information: People without a formal commission can receive up to 5 percent of recovered assets as a reward for providing information that leads to a recovery (Section 5(f)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Private Offensive Cyber Operations: The act allows private entities to use malware and other offensive tools to target digital infrastructure (Section 5(g)).
- Lack of Legal Recourse: No one can sue a holder of a letter of marque and reprisal in court for any act that was expressly authorized by their letter (Section 8).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+7Good For Seniors+7Good For Business Owners+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5Increases Job Creation+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+6Increases Counter Terrorism Funding+3Improves Diplomatic Engagement-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5Improves Due Process-6Improves Government Transparency-2
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.