Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens DHS research-security and increases near-term oversight and interagency coordination, but does so at the cost of added compliance burdens, potential impacts on research collaboration and academic freedoms, and some additional federal spending.
Scientists and federal researchers will have stronger Department-wide safeguards to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive DHS-funded R&D data.
Taxpayers and Congress will gain faster transparency and oversight because GAO must report within one year on DHS compliance and DHS must provide a near-term (90-day) briefing on policy development.
Scientists, government contractors, and federal research agencies will benefit from improved coordination across NSF, NSTC, OSTP, and the intelligence community, which can reduce duplication and strengthen research-security practices.
Scientists and government contractors will face new administrative requirements and compliance costs when DHS implements Department-wide research-security rules.
Researchers, schools, and universities may experience slower collaboration and reduced data sharing with external academic or industry partners due to stricter disclosure controls on DHS-funded R&D.
Tighter controls and reporting requirements that link research disclosures to intelligence agencies risk privacy and academic freedom concerns if rules are not narrowly tailored.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to create a department-wide policy and process to protect research and development (R&D) from unauthorized access or disclosure in R&D acquisitions. Directs the Government Accountability Office to report within one year on DHS compliance with federal research-security guidance (including NSPM–33 and NSTC 2022 guidance) and requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to brief two congressional committees within 90 days on development of the new policy/process.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Dale Strong · Last progress March 11, 2025