Sponsors (2)
Moving special‑events staff into the Office of Situational Awareness centralizes oversight and preserves program continuity for state and local partners, but creates short‑term disruption for federal employees, potential legal risks, and administrative costs borne by taxpayers.
DHS staff who handle special events will be moved into the Office of Situational Awareness, giving them clearer organizational alignment and oversight.
The Office of Situational Awareness will keep existing program funding and assets, reducing disruption to ongoing operations that state and local governments rely on.
Federal employees currently in the program may face short-term transitional disruptions such as relocation, role changes, or uncertainty during the mandated transfer.
Mandating the transfer notwithstanding other law could create legal conflicts or litigation risk that delays program operations and imposes costs on governments and partners.
Administrative and integration costs (record transfers, asset reallocation, restructuring) will create short‑term expenses for DHS that ultimately fall on taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Moves the Special Events Program into DHS's Office of Situational Awareness within 180 days, transferring staff, assets, records, and unspent funds.
Introduced March 27, 2026 by Ryan Mackenzie · Last progress March 27, 2026
Requires the Department of Homeland Security to move the Special Events Program into the Department’s Office of Situational Awareness within 180 days of enactment. The transfer must include all related functions, personnel, assets, records, and any unexpended balances of appropriations, authorizations, allocations, or other funds, and it takes effect even if other laws would otherwise prevent it.