Field Integration of Homeland Intelligence

Summary#

This bill would move most analytic work of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) out of its Washington, D.C. headquarters and into regional field locations. Within two years of enactment, I&A must: place at least one Intelligence Officer (IO) and one Intelligence Analyst (IA) at every fusion center and at key joint or interagency task forces; assign IOs to each joint task force as liaisons; and shift primary analytic functions to a field-based model. IOs and IAs may not be the same person. The bill requires civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy training before IOs and IAs begin field assignments. Assignments to fusion centers are generally three years and may be extended up to two more years, and DHS must avoid rotating both I&A representatives out of a fusion center at the same time.

Field staff will report operationally to an I&A Regional Director and follow policy and oversight from the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis. Field I&A staff must coordinate with regional leads from FEMA, CISA, ICE, CBP, and other DHS components. Within 180 days of enactment the Under Secretary must send Congress a staffing and resource plan showing personnel needs for regions, which headquarters roles can move to the field, what must stay at headquarters, a plan for rotations so field staff do not stay longer than five years without a headquarters rotation, and other hiring or training needs.

DHS must provide an initial implementation report to Congress one year after enactment describing decentralization progress, staffing, and challenges. DHS must then give an annual assessment for five years, covering operational impact, efficiencies, partner integration, and training details and materials.

What it means for you#

  • If you work at or with a fusion center, the bill would require a dedicated DHS IO and IA to be placed there to give real-time analytic support.
  • If you are a DHS intelligence employee, more analytic positions could move from headquarters to regional offices and fusion centers. Assignments would typically last three years, with a possible two-year extension.
  • If you are a state, local, tribal, or territorial (SLTT) partner, the bill aims to increase direct DHS intelligence support and coordination in your region.
  • IOs and IAs must receive training on civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy before starting field assignments.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill says decentralizing I&A will improve operational relevance, responsiveness, and coordination. It argues regional placement of analysts will strengthen collaboration with Federal partners and SLTT partners (including fusion centers and joint task forces) and will leverage DHS’s existing ten-region field structure to improve intelligence integration and efficiencies.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.