Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

Bill Number: H.R. 7744
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Economics and Public Finance
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-03-09: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Last Updated: 2026-06-11T23:26:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 7744: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

Purpose

This legislation provides funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026 (FY 2026). It allocates specific budget amounts for DHS operations, including border security, immigration enforcement, disaster response, cybersecurity, and other homeland security activities. The act also includes a division to extend and ratify prior continuing appropriations during a potential lapse in funding, ensuring uninterrupted essential services.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into two main parts: Division A (DHS Appropriations) and Division B (Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026). Key elements include:

Funding Allocations by DHS Component:
Title I: Departmental Management, Intelligence, Situational Awareness, and Oversight: $2,673,111,000 total, covering offices like the Secretary, Management Directorate, Intelligence and Analysis, and Inspector General. Includes funds for operations, procurement, and oversight of detention facilities.
Title II: Security, Enforcement, and Investigations: $44,098,140,000 total for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, $17,950,860,000), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, $10,041,362,000), Transportation Security Administration (TSA, $10,989,664,000), Coast Guard ($14,519,036,000), and U.S. Secret Service ($3,250,071,000). Supports border patrol, immigration enforcement, aviation security, maritime operations, and protective services.
Title III: Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: $35,472,239,513 total for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA, $2,605,098,000) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, $32,867,141,513). Funds cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, grants for homeland security, fire assistance, flood mapping, and disaster relief ($26,367,000,000 specifically for major disasters).
Title IV: Research, Development, Training, and Services: $1,351,484,000 total for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, $122,941,000), Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC, $398,137,000), and Science and Technology Directorate ($831,206,000). Covers immigration services, law enforcement training, and R&D.
Title V: General Provisions: Includes restrictions on fund use, reprogramming rules, reporting requirements, and rescissions of prior unobligated funds (e.g., $551 total from various accounts).

Specific Directives and Restrictions:
Requires detailed reporting on budgets, staffing, acquisitions, pilots/demonstrations, and oversight of prior supplemental funds (e.g., from Public Law 119-21).
Prohibits new border crossing fees, use of funds for certain intelligence activities, and destruction of records related to detainee incidents.
Mandates monthly estimates of migrant arrivals and detentions/removals to inform budgeting.
Allocates $20,000,000 for body-worn cameras for enforcement officers and $100,000,000 for ICE executive oversight tied to reporting compliance.
Extends certain prior-year authorities, such as overtime pay exceptions for protective services.

Division B: Ratifies obligations during a funding lapse starting around February 13, 2026, and ensures personnel pay under anti-deficiency laws (31 U.S.C. § 1341).

Explanatory Statement: Incorporates guidance from a prior House explanatory statement (on H.R. 7147) for fund allocation, treated as a conference report.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Oversight Enhancements: Introduces new requirements for documenting and reporting on pilots/demonstrations (e.g., objectives, costs, lessons learned) and quarterly Inspector General audits of supplemental funds from Public Law 119-21.
Funding Adjustments: Rescinds $2,362,000 from the DHS Nonrecurring Expenses Fund and various unobligated balances (totaling over $80 million across accounts). Increases certain allocations, like $342 million each for fire grants and staffing.
Policy Riders: Prohibits funds for new border fees (Sec. 207), restricts 287(g) immigration agreements if violated (Sec. 212), and bans detention contracts for underperforming facilities (Sec. 213). Amends overtime pay laws for Secret Service (Sec. 237) and extends flood insurance provisions.
Continuing Appropriations: Division B extends coverage of a prior continuing resolution (Public Law 119-37) to address a potential shutdown lapse, ratifying prior obligations.
Other Updates: Allows waivers for fire grants, modifies reporting deadlines (e.g., from "report" to "briefing" in Sec. 223), and transfers funds (e.g., $99,750,000 from CISA's recovery fund).

These changes build on prior appropriations acts (e.g., 2018–2025) by updating fiscal years, thresholds, and restrictions while incorporating new oversight mechanisms.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Provides stable funding for DHS to maintain operations, procure equipment (e.g., vehicles, aircraft), and expand capabilities like body-worn cameras and MQ-9 drones for the Coast Guard. Rescissions may limit flexibility for prior projects, while reporting requirements increase administrative burdens but enhance accountability. FEMA's $26 billion disaster fund supports rapid response to events like hurricanes or floods.
Citizens: Improves border and aviation security, potentially reducing wait times or enhancing safety for travelers. Immigration enforcement funding affects detention and removal processes, impacting undocumented individuals and communities. Disaster relief aids states, localities, and individuals in recovery. Grants for nonprofits, fire departments, and flood mitigation benefit vulnerable populations.
International Relations: Coast Guard and CBP funding supports maritime interdiction and border cooperation, potentially influencing relations with Mexico, Canada, and other nations. Restrictions on foreign assistance (e.g., no kinetic unmanned aircraft) and protections for U.S. flag vessels in oil transport (Sec. 206) could affect trade and alliances. Prohibitions on certain detainee transfers (Sec. 536) maintain status quo on high-profile cases.

Overall, the act sustains DHS priorities amid potential fiscal uncertainties, with rescissions trimming excess but risking delays in non-essential projects.

Main Stakeholders Affected

DHS Components: CBP, ICE, TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA, USCIS, Secret Service, and support offices (e.g., Inspector General) receive direct funding and face new reporting obligations.
State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments: Benefit from grants (e.g., $494 million for homeland security, $684 million for fire assistance) for emergency preparedness, border operations, and disaster mitigation.
Citizens and Communities: Immigrants, travelers, disaster victims, and first responders are impacted by enforcement, security, and relief programs. Nonprofits and high-risk sites receive security grants.
Contractors and Vendors: Affected by procurement funds (e.g., for vehicles, facilities) and restrictions on underperforming detention contracts.
Congress and Oversight Bodies: Enhanced reporting ensures transparency, with committees receiving briefings on budgets, acquisitions, and estimates.
International Partners: Foreign governments and entities involved in border, maritime, and law enforcement collaborations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens compliance with laws like the Immigration and Nationality Act and Stafford Act through targeted funding and prohibitions (e.g., no funds for non-autonomous surveillance under Public Law 119-21, Sec. 210). Reporting on non-competitive grants (Sec. 101) promotes transparency under federal procurement rules. Ratification of lapse obligations (Division B) upholds anti-deficiency protections (31 U.S.C. § 1341).
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (Art. I, § 9), imposing conditions on executive spending. Access provisions for congressional oversight of detention facilities (Sec. 547) reinforce separation of powers and accountability.
Political: Includes earmarks ($272 million for community projects) and policy riders (e.g., no new border fees, migrant estimates), reflecting bipartisan priorities on security and relief while advancing partisan goals like immigration enforcement. Rescissions and continuing resolutions address fiscal conservatism amid shutdown risks, potentially influencing budget negotiations. The act's neutrality in funding avoids major shifts but embeds oversight to prevent waste, fraud, or abuse, as highlighted in Inspector General mandates.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]

Recent Actions

2026-03-09: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
2026-03-05: The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 7744.
2026-03-05: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-03-05: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 209 (Roll no. 87). (text: CR H2432-2444) (Roll call 87)
2026-03-05: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 209 (Roll no. 87). (text: CR H2432-2444) (Roll call 87)
2026-03-05: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 212 - 217 (Roll no. 86). (Roll call 86)
2026-03-05: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2449-2451)
2026-03-05: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 7744, the Chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. DeLauro demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
2026-03-05: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
2026-03-05: Ms. DeLauro moved to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations. (text: CR H2448)
2026-03-05: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2026-03-05: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7744.
2026-03-05: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7744 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Bill is closed to amendments.
2026-03-05: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1095. (consideration: CR H2432-2448)
2026-03-04: Rule H. Res. 1095 passed House.

Bill Versions

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (108 pages)
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2026-03-02 — PDF (107 pages)
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 — issued 2026-03-09 — PDF (107 pages)