I&A Mission Reorientation Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7443

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0.

Last Updated

2026-07-09T13:27:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The I&A Mission Reorientation Act of 2026 aims to adjust the focus of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) to better support state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private sector entities, by emphasizing two-way information sharing and equal prioritization of resources. It seeks to enhance collaboration and proactive threat response without undermining I&A's other duties.

Key Provisions

• Findings and Sense of Congress:
• Congress recognizes I&A's role in fusing law enforcement and intelligence information to provide actionable insights to various government levels and private entities.
• It stresses the need for mutual trust, collaboration, and a proactive approach to evolving threats.
• Congress expresses that I&A should prioritize timely intelligence support to non-federal stakeholders, promote two-way (not one-way) information flow, and balance this with support to DHS leadership.
• Mission Realignment:
• Adds a new requirement to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, mandating that I&A equally prioritize and resource its support for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and private sector entities compared to its role in the broader intelligence community (a network of U.S. agencies handling national security intelligence).
• Specific actions include:
• Identifying emerging threats using forward-deployed intelligence teams (field-based operations).
• Enabling two-way information sharing: receiving data from stakeholders and distributing useful intelligence back to them.
• Maintaining strong ties with fusion centers (regional hubs that combine data from multiple sources for threat analysis).
• Ensuring intelligence provided to DHS leaders, like the Secretary, does not reduce focus on broader stakeholder support.
• Reporting Requirement:
• Within 180 days of enactment, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis must report to key congressional committees (House and Senate Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Governmental Affairs) on implementation steps, progress in two-way sharing, effectiveness metrics for stakeholder support, and any needed resource or organizational changes.
• Rule of Construction:
• The changes do not affect I&A's existing role in watchlisting (compiling lists of individuals or entities for security screening).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends section 201(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by adding a new paragraph (24), which explicitly requires equal prioritization and resourcing for I&A's stakeholder-facing mission alongside its intelligence community obligations.
• Introduces mandates for proactive, two-way engagement and sustained fusion center involvement, shifting from potentially siloed operations to more collaborative ones.
• Adds a congressional reporting mechanism to ensure accountability, which was not previously specified for this aspect of I&A's work.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: DHS's I&A may need to reallocate staff, budgets, or structures to balance priorities, potentially improving coordination with state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies through better intelligence flow. Fusion centers could see increased resources and engagement, enhancing threat detection nationwide.
• On Citizens: Indirect benefits include faster, more relevant threat warnings (e.g., for terrorism or natural disasters), leading to stronger community safety without direct privacy intrusions, as watchlisting functions remain unchanged.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though improved domestic intelligence fusion could indirectly strengthen U.S. homeland security posture in global threat sharing with allies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary: DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis and its Under Secretary, who must implement changes and report progress.
• Government Entities: State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, which gain prioritized intelligence support; fusion centers, benefiting from sustained engagement.
• Private Sector: Businesses and organizations receiving more actionable threat intelligence.
• Broader Intelligence Community: Federal agencies that collaborate with I&A, ensuring their support is not deprioritized.
• Congress: Oversight committees (e.g., House Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees) receiving reports to monitor effectiveness.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces existing statutory roles under the Homeland Security Act without creating new authorities; the rule of construction preserves watchlisting to avoid conflicts with privacy laws like those under the Privacy Act. The reporting requirement enhances congressional oversight, a standard mechanism for accountability.
• Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it aligns with Congress's power to structure executive agencies (Article I) and promote domestic security without infringing on individual rights.
• Political: Encourages bipartisan emphasis on collaborative homeland security (introduced by Reps. Pfluger and Magaziner from different parties), potentially reducing tensions over intelligence silos while addressing criticisms of one-way federal information flows. It promotes efficiency in resource use amid evolving threats like cyberattacks or extremism.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-24: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 0.
• 2026-06-24: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-05-14: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
• 2026-05-14: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-02-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
• 2026-02-09: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
• 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• I&A Mission Reorientation Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-09 — PDF (5 pages)