Sponsors (3)
The bill increases DHS research-security protections, oversight, and interagency coordination to better safeguard sensitive R&D, while imposing additional compliance requirements and costs that could slow collaboration and raise expenses for researchers and taxpayers.
DHS researchers, contractors, and federal staff will have clearer, department-wide rules to protect sensitive R&D from unauthorized access or disclosure, strengthening protection of national-security-relevant research.
Congress and taxpayers will get faster and more independent oversight and transparency through a required GAO assessment within a year and a Secretary briefing within 90 days, improving accountability for DHS research-security practices.
DHS coordination with NSF, NSTC, OSTP and other agencies will promote more consistent, cross‑agency research-security practices, which can reduce conflicting rules and improve policy alignment for federally funded R&D.
Researchers, students, and research institutions may face slower scientific collaboration and reduced open exchange if safeguards are implemented too broadly, which could hinder innovation in federally funded R&D.
Researchers, contractors, and small research businesses will likely face new administrative burdens and compliance costs from department‑wide security processes and reporting requirements.
DHS will incur additional costs for implementing, monitoring, and overseeing the new safeguards and coordination requirements, potentially increasing costs borne by taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DHS S&T to adopt a department-wide policy to protect R&D acquisitions and mandates GAO reporting and a DHS briefing on compliance with federal research-security guidance.
Requires the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to create a department-wide policy and process to protect research and development acquisitions from unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive information. Directs the Comptroller General to report within one year on DHS compliance with National Security Presidential Memorandum–33 and related federal research-security guidance, and requires a DHS briefing to congressional homeland security committees within 90 days on policy development.
Official title: To require the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security to develop a Department-wide policy and process to safeguard research and development from unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive information in research and development acquisitions, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Dale Strong · Last progress March 11, 2025