Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act
The Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a department-wide policy and process to protect research and development (R&D) activities from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information, specifically in DHS R&D acquisitions. The policy would be developed by the Under Secretary of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) in coordination with relevant DHS officials and then implemented across the department. The bill also creates oversight and accountability mechanisms. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report would be due within one year, evaluating DHS compliance with NSPM-33 (a presidential memorandum guiding research-security practices) and the National Science and Technology Council’s 2022 guidance, including how disclosures are handled and reported to relevant agencies, coordination with other federal bodies on research security, and the role of the S&T Directorate in establishing a DHS-wide research-security framework. Additionally, DHS would brief Congress within 90 days on progress toward these policies and processes. The proposal is intended to align DHS R&D security with federal standards and improve oversight of sensitive information in DHS research contracts and projects.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new requirement in DHS to develop a department-wide policy and process to safeguard R&D from unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive information in R&D acquisitions, led by the S&T Directorate.
- 2Requires a GAO report within one year assessing DHS compliance with NSPM-33 and NSTC 2022 guidance, including disclosure reporting to the intelligence community, coordination with NSF/NSTC/OSTP and other agencies, and the S&T Directorate’s role in a DHS-wide research-security framework.
- 3Mandates a Congressional briefing within 90 days after enactment to outline policy and process development for safeguarding DHS R&D in line with the new authority.
- 4Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Section 302) to add a new paragraph (15) establishing the DHS-wide R&D security policy requirement; adjusts punctuation to reflect the new clause.
- 5Emphasizes cross-agency coordination and alignment with existing federal research-security guidance, ensuring DHS follows NSPM-33 and NSTC/NSTP guidance for research-security practices.