Field Integration of Homeland Intelligence Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7773
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T13:27:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to shift the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) from a centralized structure based mainly in Washington, D.C., to a decentralized model. This places more analysts and officers in regional field locations to enhance collaboration with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as other federal agencies.
Key Provisions
- Decentralization Mandate: Within two years of enactment, the DHS Secretary must move primary analytic functions to a field-based model. This includes assigning at least one Intelligence Officer and one Intelligence Analyst to every fusion center (a facility for sharing and analyzing intelligence across agencies) and other key locations, plus one Intelligence Officer to each joint or interagency task force.
- Personnel Rules: Individuals cannot hold both officer and analyst roles at the same time. Assigned staff must receive training on civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, and information laws before starting. Fusion centers provide input on assignments. Terms last three years, extendable by up to two more years, with measures to prevent simultaneous staff rotations.
- Coordination and Reporting: Field staff report to regional directors but follow guidance from the Under Secretary for I&A. They must coordinate with other DHS components like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Within 180 days, a staffing and resource plan must be submitted to Congress, detailing personnel needs, headquarters roles, and a rotation program limiting field time to five years before a headquarters assignment.
- Oversight Reports: An initial progress report is due within one year, followed by annual assessments for five years on operational impacts, efficiencies, and training provided.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new requirements for restructuring I&A operations, which are not currently mandated under existing DHS statutes. It adds specific assignment, training, and reporting obligations, including a shift from headquarters-focused to region-based (aligned with FEMA's ten regions) intelligence support, while retaining some headquarters functions based on a submitted plan.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies, it would require DHS to reassign personnel and resources, potentially improving regional intelligence sharing but increasing administrative and training demands.
- On citizens, enhanced privacy training for staff may support better protections during intelligence activities, though no direct effects on individual rights are specified.
- No direct impacts on international relations are outlined in the bill.
Main Stakeholders
- DHS components, including I&A, FEMA, CISA, and others involved in regional operations.
- State, local, tribal, and territorial partners, particularly those operating fusion centers.
- Congressional committees overseeing homeland security and intelligence matters.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill emphasizes compliance with privacy laws like the Privacy Act of 1974 through required training and reporting. It strengthens congressional oversight via multiple mandated reports and plans. No major constitutional issues are addressed in the text, but the decentralization could affect how intelligence functions are balanced between federal headquarters and field operations.
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]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
- 2026-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 2026-03-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Field Integration of Homeland Intelligence Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-03 — PDF (9 pages)