119-HR-2978 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary: H.R. 2978 — Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act

Headline Summary: The GUARD Act lets state, local, and Tribal police use certain existing federal grants to go after elder fraud, crypto “pig‑butchering,” and other scams, while enlisting federal help with blockchain tracing tools and requiring government-wide reports on scam trends.

What It Does: The bill doesn’t create new funding streams; it clarifies that eligible Department of Justice technology/training grants can be used to investigate elder financial abuse, pig‑butchering schemes, and general financial fraud. Agencies could hire or train personnel (including on blockchain analytics and other emerging tech), buy investigative software, improve data sharing, run tabletop exercises with banks, and name a liaison for faster info‑sharing. It also authorizes federal law‑enforcement to help state, local, Tribal agencies and fusion centers use blockchain tracing tools. Treasury and FinCEN, with DOJ, DHS, and financial regulators, must deliver reports to Congress on fraud, scams, and enforcement results, plus a two‑year landscape study on the “state of scams.”

• Who’s For It: Bipartisan House sponsors — Rep. Zachary Nunn (R‑IA), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D‑NJ), and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R‑WI). Supporters argue it gives police clearer permission to use existing tech‑grant dollars on fast‑growing fraud problems, better protects seniors, and speeds coordination with banks and federal partners.
• Who’s Against It: No formal opposition is listed in the text so far. Potential critics could worry about privacy and due‑process risks from wider use of blockchain tracing tools, the chance of false positives or overreach, or duplication with existing programs.

Why It Matters: Financial scams — especially those targeting older adults and those using crypto — can drain life savings and often cross state or national borders. By clarifying how existing grants may be used and by requiring cross‑agency reporting, the bill aims to move resources and attention toward complex, tech‑enabled fraud that local departments often struggle to tackle.

What’s Next: On May 13, 2026, a House committee ordered the bill reported, as amended, by a 52–0 vote after markup. The next step is scheduling for a House floor vote; if it passes, the measure moves to the Senate and, if approved there, to the President.