Representative Dale Strong introduces Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act
WASHINGTON— Today, Representative Dale W. Strong, Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman, introduced the “Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act.”
This legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to develop a process to safeguard sensitive information in research and development projects to limit unauthorized access to, and disclosure of, sensitive information.
“This bill will strengthen safeguards to prevent unauthorized access of sensitive information, ensuring that our nation’s research and development efforts remain secure,” said Representative Dale Strong. “Chinese espionage is one of our country’s greatest threats. Protecting our innovations is critical to national security, and this legislation takes an important step in ensuring the integrity of DHS research.”
The legislation also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on DHS’s compliance with government-wide policies to protect research and development. Lastly, the bill requires DHS to provide a briefing to the House and Senate Committees on Homeland Security to address the 2022 OIG Report on S&T’s mismanagement of R&D projects.
BACKGROUND:
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is the primary research and development (R&D) arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In Fiscal Year 2024, Congress appropriated $461 million to S&T for R&D projects addressing issues such as border security, maritime safety, criminal investigations, emerging technologies, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.[1]
However, in 2022, the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that S&T failed to safeguard sensitive information in R&D projects due to a lack of oversight and guidance provided by S&T.[2]
FBI Director Christopher Wray has repeatedly warned that Chinese espionage threatens U.S. national security, academic integrity, and competitive advantage in innovation and technology.[3] As such, federal R&D efforts remain a target for foreign theft and malign influence.
In 2017, the DHS OIG conducted a classified review of S&T’s insider threat program to determine the effectiveness of S&T’s efforts to prevent “unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse by trusted insiders” amongst S&T employees, contractors, and business partners.[4] While the results of the audit remain classified, the OIG report highlighted the need for S&T to safeguard sensitive R&D projects across the Department.