Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act

This bill tells the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to set a clear, department-wide policy to keep sensitive research safe. It focuses on stopping unauthorized access or sharing of sensitive information in DHS research-and-development contracts and purchases. It also requires an independent check on whether DHS is following national research security rules, including a 2021 presidential memo and 2022 guidance about disclosures like foreign ties and conflicts of interest.

The Government Accountability Office must report within one year on how DHS is meeting these rules and coordinating with agencies like the National Science Foundation and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. DHS must also brief Congress within 90 days on its plan to protect research across the department.

• Who is affected: DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate and DHS programs that fund R&D, along with contractors and partners involved in DHS research.
• What changes: A department-wide policy to safeguard sensitive R&D information; required oversight and a public accountability report on DHS’s compliance with federal research security guidance .
• When: DHS briefing due within 90 days after the law takes effect; GAO report due within one year after enactment.