Sponsors (3)
The bill increases transparency, oversight, and privacy safeguards for DHS use of bulk data at the cost of added administrative burden, some taxpayer expense, and potential operational security risks from expanded notifications.
Taxpayers, congressional oversight bodies, and federal intelligence staff will get stronger transparency and accountability because DHS (Office of Intelligence and Analysis) must be audited annually and brief Congress when it first uses a new bulk dataset or changes its terms.
Americans’ privacy and civil liberties are likely to be better protected because regular audits and oversight require review of bulk datasets and systems against oversight guidelines.
Taxpayers and policymakers will benefit from a GAO review within four years to identify implementation challenges and recommend improvements, which can strengthen future audits and safeguards.
Law-enforcement personnel and intelligence programs could face operational security risks if notification requirements reveal classified program details to congressional staff or are mishandled.
Federal employees will face added compliance and administrative burdens because a broad definition of 'bulk data' forces DHS to determine what data qualify and how to audit many datasets.
Taxpayers may incur higher DHS administrative costs to conduct annual audits and reporting, increasing government spending.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DHS intelligence office to audit its systems and bulk data within 180 days and annually, notify Congress about new bulk data uses or terms changes, and submit audits and a GAO review.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Laurel Lee · Last progress February 27, 2025
Requires the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence office to audit its information systems and any bulk data holdings within 180 days of enactment and then every year. It also requires the office to notify specified congressional committees within 30 days after first using a new bulk data set or after changes to the data’s terms, to submit audit findings to those committees within 30 days of each audit, and to have the Government Accountability Office review implementation and make recommendations within four years. Also establishes a short title and makes a minor clerical Table of Contents insertion. No new funding is specified in the text provided.