Nuclear Forensics Authority Realignment Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8969

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.

Last Updated

2026-06-23T18:53:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation transfers responsibility for coordinating federal nuclear forensics and attribution activities from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within the Department of Energy. It aims to consolidate these functions under an agency with primary expertise in nuclear matters to maintain a unified national capability for responding to nuclear terrorism or attacks.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a National Nuclear Forensics Center inside the NNSA.
• Assigns the Center the mission of coordinating stewardship, planning, exercises, research, and integration of all federal nuclear forensics and attribution efforts.
• Requires the NNSA Administrator to develop a plan within one year to expand the existing NNSA university program to include nuclear forensics expertise.
• Repeals the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act (Public Law 111-140) entirely.
• Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to remove DHS-specific nuclear forensics provisions from Title XIX.
• Redirects all legal references to the former DHS National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center to the new NNSA center.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Shifts primary authority and coordination of nuclear forensics from DHS’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to NNSA.
• Eliminates statutory mandates previously assigned to DHS in this area.
• Updates the National Nuclear Security Administration Act by adding a new section (3222) for the Center and making related clerical changes.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Transfers operational and planning responsibilities from DHS to NNSA, potentially requiring resource reallocations and adjustments in interagency coordination.
• On citizens: No direct effects; the change focuses on internal government structure rather than public programs.
• On international relations: May influence how the United States engages with foreign partners on nuclear attribution by centralizing expertise under an agency already involved in international nuclear security cooperation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Department of Homeland Security (loses specific authorities).
• National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of Energy (gain responsibilities).
• Universities participating in NNSA programs (new focus on nuclear forensics training).
• Other federal agencies involved in nuclear response, such as those in intelligence and law enforcement communities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill represents a reorganization of executive branch functions through legislation, which is within Congress’s authority to structure federal agencies. It does not alter constitutional powers or create new regulatory requirements on individuals or states. The change could affect congressional oversight by moving related activities under committees that typically handle Department of Energy matters.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-22: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.
• 2026-05-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-21: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Nuclear Forensics Authority Realignment Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (4 pages)