This Act may be cited as the “Truth in Public Claims Act of 2026.”

This Act ensures that statements, publications, presentations, and media funded by the United States Government and claiming to present scientific, technical, or national-security information are supported by transparent, verifiable, and falsifiable evidence. It prevents manipulation by lobbying or private interests, safeguards taxpayers from paying for misinformation, and protects public safety and national security.

• Public Claim: Any statement, publication, media release, hearing exhibit, or testimony made in an official capacity or financed in whole or part by public funds that asserts a factual, scientific, technical, or national-security proposition.
• Scientifically Based Evidence: Verifiable data, peer-reviewed research, reproducible results, validated observational records, or officially documented information that meets accepted standards of scientific inquiry and is empirically testable or falsifiable under the scientific method.
• Material Lobbying Influence: Any direct or indirect shaping of a public claim by a registered lobbyist, corporation, contractor, or advocacy organization, including drafting, ghostwriting, funding, scripting, or coordinated messaging.
• Manipulated Speech: Speech substantially derived from external lobbying, coordinated influence operations, or ghostwriting that is presented as the official view or output of a public office, agency, or program.
• Publicly Funded Representative: Any individual receiving federal or state compensation, pension, annuity, grant, or contractual payment for prior or current government service who publicly presents or endorses scientific, technical, or national-security claims related to that service.
• Source Attribution Statement: A public notice that identifies the originating agency or office, the specific division, unit, or review board, and the unique authorization reference for any released or confirmed material claimed to be of government origin.

This Act applies to all elected or appointed officials of the United States Government and of any State or political subdivision thereof when acting in their official capacity or using public resources, including staff time, facilities, or appropriations. Statements, publications, or hearings conducted in an official capacity that assert or endorse factual or scientific claims shall comply with the evidence and disclosure requirements of this Act. Nothing in this section limits the right of officials to express personal or political opinions, provided such expressions are not represented as verified government findings or scientific fact.

This Act applies to any individual, corporation, nonprofit organization, or research entity that receives federal or state funding, grants, contracts, or reimbursements for services, studies, or communications activities. Such entities are bound by the same evidence, transparency, and disclosure requirements as government agencies. No entity funded in whole or part by taxpayer money may disseminate, publish, or promote scientifically unverifiable or manipulated information under the guise of official or expert authority.

1. Unregistered Lobbying Prohibition: It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, or nonprofit organization to lobby, directly or indirectly, any public official or agency regarding scientific, technical, or national-security claims without being registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act.
2. Hybrid Funding Transparency: Any organization or contractor that combines private and public funding must disclose the proportion and source of such funds in all communications related to public policy or official testimony. When taxpayer funds are involved, those communications are subject to the same scientific-evidence and disclosure standards as government speech.
3. Influence on Public Policy: Private entities, including NGOs or think tanks, that exert material influence on legislation, appropriations, or public communications concerning scientific or national-security topics shall submit an annual Influence Transparency Report detailing their government contracts, lobbying registrations, contacts, and coordination with current or former government officials.

All publicly funded claims must cite the underlying scientifically based evidence. Officials and contractors must disclose any lobbying contacts or funding sources tied to those claims. Claims presented as scientific must be empirically testable or falsifiable; non-falsifiable statements must be labeled as opinion or speculation.

Appropriated funds may not be used to produce, publish, validate, or promote information that is demonstrably false, scientifically unverifiable when represented as fact, or materially manipulated by undisclosed interests. This includes paid media, hearings, websites, reports, or contractor deliverables.

The Comptroller General shall establish a Scientific Integrity Review Board within the Government Accountability Office. The SIRB may receive complaints, open audits, compel records, and issue written findings with corrective recommendations. Findings shall be public except for classified annexes, and agencies must provide corrective-action plans with deadlines.

No department, agency, officer, contractor, or grantee of the United States Government shall direct, fund, coordinate, or otherwise enable any non-governmental organization, private corporation, academic institution, or individual to conduct information operations, psychological influence activities, or public-perception campaigns targeted at citizens or residents of the United States.

This prohibition applies to both overt and covert activities, including the use of social media, online communities, conferences, publications, or public events designed to alter or manipulate public opinion or belief concerning scientific, technical, or national-security matters.

Any government funding, grants, or contracts issued to NGOs or private entities shall include a mandatory certification that no portion of the funding will be used, directly or indirectly, to conduct such influence or perception management campaigns.

Violations of this section shall be referred to the Inspector General of the funding agency and the Government Accountability Office for investigation, with penalties including suspension of funding, public disclosure of the violation, and permanent ineligibility for future federal contracts or grants.

No elected or appointed official, employee, or contractor of the United States Government, or of any State or political subdivision thereof, may accept compensation, gifts, royalties, or in-kind benefits for participating in, producing, or promoting any media, film, documentary, podcast, or public communications project that concerns or draws upon their official duties, government service, or access to nonpublic information, unless the arrangement and funding sources are fully disclosed to the appropriate ethics office and made publicly available.

Any public communication, appearance, or documentary participation by a sitting official that involves discussion of factual, scientific, or national-security matters under the jurisdiction of their office shall be presumed to be conducted in their official capacity unless explicitly disclaimed and approved in writing by their agency or ethics officer.

Media projects or productions found to have provided compensation, benefits, or promises of future employment to government officials in exchange for statements, participation, or the appearance of endorsement shall be subject to disclosure and sanctions under this Act.

Employees and contractors who disclose manipulation, falsification, or lobbying interference in public claims are protected against retaliation. This Act expands existing federal whistleblower protections and provides for expedited review by the Office of Special Counsel.

Recipients of government pensions or contracts who knowingly and repeatedly use publicly funded status to disseminate scientifically unverifiable or false claims of national significance may be subject to administrative review, suspension of consulting eligibility, or civil penalties.

Any release or confirmation of material said to originate from the U.S. Government must include a Source Attribution Statement naming the originating agency, division, or review board that authenticated or cleared the material. A public chain-of-custody record shall document the review date, verification method, and responsible officials. Failure to clarify within 30 days triggers classification as “Unacknowledged — Pending Verification.” False attribution of government origin is punishable as Fraudulent Attribution of Public Authority.

Each federal science, defense, and intelligence agency shall designate an Information Integrity Officer responsible for prompt clarifications or denials when material is falsely described as government-sourced.

All imagery, video, or data claimed as official government evidence must carry verifiable digital signatures or metadata issued by the originating agency. Dissemination of AI-generated or altered content represented as authentic government material is prohibited and subject to penalties.

• Administrative Remedies: Corrective actions, public retractions, suspension or debarment of contractors, and loss of eligibility for repeated violations.
• Civil Penalties: Monetary fines for misuse of funds, failure to disclose lobbying influence, or dissemination of unverifiable media as government evidence.
• Criminal Referrals: Knowingly false statements or fabrication of evidence for financial or political gain may be referred to the Department of Justice.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or restrict the constitutional rights of individuals to freedom of speech, press, or expression. This Act governs only the use of public funds, offices, and official capacities in producing or disseminating information. It does not prohibit private citizens, journalists, or organizations from expressing personal opinions, speculation, or beliefs, provided such communications are not represented as official or government-verified statements.

Congress finds that unverified information presented as government fact can misdirect funding, degrade public trust, and create national-security vulnerabilities through psychological or influence operations. Transparent evidence standards, falsifiability, source attribution, and timely clarifications are necessary to protect the Republic.

The GAO shall issue an annual Public Claims Integrity Report summarizing investigations, findings, corrective actions, and unresolved cases categorized as Unacknowledged — Pending Verification. A public dashboard shall track compliance.

This Act takes effect 180 days after enactment. Agencies must appoint Information Integrity Officers and publish authenticity-verification guidance within 120 days.