Sponsors (6)
The bill advances voluntary DOE tools, pilots, workforce training, and clearer agency roles to strengthen pipeline and LNG security and response, but its voluntary nature and potential agency overlap mean some operators may remain unprotected and regulatory uncertainty and federal costs could increase.
Utilities, energy companies, and the communities they serve (urban and rural) gain access to voluntary DOE tools and pilot projects that strengthen pipeline and LNG physical and cyber defenses and reduce the risk of service disruptions and safety hazards.
Federal and state agencies and pipeline operators benefit from preserved regulatory continuity and clearer coordination/jurisdictional boundaries, reducing legal uncertainty and improving incident response and recovery.
Local communities and energy employers gain workforce development curricula that train more workers in pipeline physical and cyber security, improving local capacity and job skills.
Utilities and communities may remain vulnerable because the program is voluntary and operators or states might not participate, producing uneven adoption and fragmented coordination that leaves critical pipelines and LNG facilities unprotected.
Federal agencies, operators, and stakeholders face increased regulatory uncertainty and complexity because the bill excludes DOE from the savings clause and creates potential overlap between DOE and other agencies, possibly expanding DOE authority or producing conflicting requirements.
Taxpayers and federal budgets could face additional costs because DOE-led coordination and pilot programs require federal resources and staffing.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires DOE to establish a voluntary program to strengthen physical security and cybersecurity for natural gas, hazardous liquid pipelines, and LNG facilities through coordination, pilots, tools, and training.
Official title: To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program relating to physical security and cybersecurity for pipelines and liquefied natural gas facilities.
Introduced January 27, 2026 by Randy Weber · Last progress January 27, 2026
Directs the Department of Energy to run a program to strengthen physical security and cybersecurity for natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, hazardous liquid pipelines, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The program focuses on improving federal/state/industry coordination, leading incident response and recovery coordination, piloting advanced cybersecurity technologies, supporting voluntary evaluation tools, and developing workforce training and curricula. The Act preserves other federal agencies' existing authorities over pipeline security and does not itself change their authorities.