DHS Intelligence Transparency Office Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new section to the Homeland Security Act to create an Intelligence Transparency and Oversight Program Office inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Office is led by an Ombuds who must be a senior, career employee and will report to the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis. The Ombuds must also be able to report directly to Congress about urgent concerns.

The Ombuds will review DHS intelligence activities for timeliness, objectivity, and independence from political considerations. The Ombuds will work with the DHS Privacy Officer and the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, provide confidential forums for employees and others to raise concerns, initiate reviews, make recommendations to intelligence component leaders, and help decide when information can be released to the public without harming homeland security. The heads of DHS intelligence components must respond in writing to Ombuds recommendations within 60 days. The Secretary must provide the Ombuds access to needed information within 60 days of a request. The Ombuds must send annual reports to congressional intelligence and homeland security committees. The bill defines "intelligence activity" to include collection, processing, analysis, production, and dissemination of homeland security and terrorism information.

What it means for you#

  • DHS will have a new internal office focused on reviewing how it does intelligence work and on whether that work is objective and free from political influence.
  • The Ombuds offers a confidential way for people inside DHS to raise concerns about privacy, civil rights, civil liberties, or biased or politicized analysis.
  • The Office is tasked with helping DHS decide what information can be made public to increase public understanding while protecting security.
  • The Ombuds will produce annual public reports to key congressional committees about its work.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

Supporters provided in the bill text want an independent, career Ombuds to: review and improve the objectivity and independence of DHS intelligence activities; increase protections for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties; provide confidential channels for raising concerns about politicization or bias; and promote sensible public transparency about intelligence work while protecting security.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.