119-hr-7147119th CongressWALLET

Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.

Sponsored By: Representative Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]

Became Law

Summary

Provides FY2026 funding and tighter oversight for the Department of Homeland Security and its components. It combines detailed appropriations for CBP, TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA, USSS, USCIS, and others with new controls on transfers, acquisitions, pilots, and reporting requirements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

26 provisions identified: 21 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

No new fees to cross borders

DHS cannot create or collect any new fee for people crossing the land border at ports of entry. The ban covers pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and passengers in private cars. DHS also cannot study such a fee.

3.8% raise for air traffic controllers

The law provides $140 million for the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, available through September 30, 2027. It allows a 3.8% pay increase in 2026 for air traffic controllers and managers who manage traffic. The FAA Administrator must first determine improvements in scheduling, staffing use, or other efficiencies. If that finding is made, the raise starts the first pay period after January 1, 2026.

Federal employee pay and benefits paid

Funds for federal personnel pay, allowances, and benefits are available and must be paid. This applies to money in this Act, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, and Public Law 119-21, using payments allowed by 31 U.S.C. 1341(c).

Border planning, vetting, and reports

DHS must publish monthly, validated estimates for detentions, removals, and southwest border arrivals, with group breakdowns, and use them in budgets. Asking Defense for border help now requires alternatives and cost‑benefit analyses and reports to Congress, plus follow‑up reports. CBP cannot obligate certain procurement funds until it submits an expenditure plan. DHS cannot reduce planned vetting at National Targeting Center sites unless a later law allows it. The law also blocks transfers into CBP Operations and Support for the listed Border Security Operations.

Cyber threat feeds for governments

CISA can use its funds to buy or provide access to cybersecurity threat feeds. Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities, fusion centers, and information‑sharing groups can receive them. This helps protect systems and services used by the public.

Faster FEMA grants, caps, and dashboard

For key FEMA grants, recipients can spend no more than 5% on admin costs. FEMA must open applications within 60 days, applicants have 80 days to apply, and FEMA must decide within 65 days. Missing the 60‑day mark cuts a FEMA account by $100,000 per day. FEMA must brief Congress five business days before announcing certain awards or lose $1,000,000. FEMA must run a public reimbursement dashboard and faces $100,000‑per‑day penalties for missing monthly DRF reports or having a large, aging final‑review backlog, with a lifesaving‑funding exception.

Keeps funding on track after lapse

The law treats the earlier continuing resolution as covering the lapse that began on or about February 14, 2026. It ratifies necessary obligations made to protect life and property and to wind down operations properly during the lapse. It also extends a CARES Act subsection so it applies through September 30, 2026.

Tighter controls on DHS budget moves

DHS cannot reprogram funds to create or end programs, raise denied or restricted programs, contract out federal work, add over $5 million or 10% to a program, or cut funding or staff by 10% or more. Transfers up to 5% between accounts are allowed with 30 days’ notice, but no account may grow by more than 10%. Initial notices after June 15 cannot start reprogramming or transfers unless there is an extraordinary, imminent threat to life or property. The Secretary may transfer up to $20 million to the fund established by 8 U.S.C. 1101 note with at least five days’ notice. For Technology Modernization Fund projects, DHS must notify the Appropriations Committees when first proposing a project, submit the proposal and a supplement/supplant analysis, and wait 15 days after sending a full report before using TMF funds.

Care standards for pregnant detainees and infants

DHS must follow care standards for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing people and for infants in CBP custody. Staff may not use restraints on a pregnant or post-delivery woman, unless a serious, immediate risk is found or a medical professional orders them. Restraints are never allowed during active labor or delivery. If used under an exception, only the safest, least restrictive restraints are allowed and positioning rules apply.

Virtual fingerprinting for USCIS applicants

USCIS may collect fingerprints and photos at Application Support Centers with staff overseeing the process virtually. Federal funds pay for this virtual oversight. This can make biometric appointments easier to run and schedule.

Bring 90-day personal meds from Canada

Customs and Border Protection cannot use funds to stop you from bringing a personal-use prescription from Canada, up to a 90-day supply. You must carry it yourself and not be in the business of importing. The drug must comply with U.S. law. Controlled substances and biological products are excluded.

New support for DHS and USCIS staff

USCIS can have up to five replacement vehicles in areas where GSA does not lease cars. The USCIS Director may let assigned staff use those vehicles to commute. Agencies can use Operations and Support funds for an employee emergency backup care program. The law also bars using these funds to run A-76 contracting competitions for listed USCIS jobs, protecting those positions.

Secret Service pay rules and reports

The law clarifies how 2024 Secret Service compensation is treated under existing pay limits. The Director must report within 180 days of enactment and each year through 2028. Reports must detail staffing and operational demands, overtime hours, and steps to reduce overtime.

Body cameras and custody records protection

The law provides $20,000,000 to buy and run body cameras for officers enforcing immigration laws. DHS may not destroy records about deaths, possible sexual assaults, or abuse allegations in DHS custody. People charged or punished due to an allegation can request those records under disclosure rules.

Coast Guard must brief before overhaul

The Coast Guard cannot use these funds to implement Force Design 2028 until it gives detailed briefings to Congress. The briefings must cover organization, people, technology, and contracting.

More DHS spending transparency and plans

Agencies must post required reports online when in the national interest, after 45 days with Congress, unless posting harms security or reveals proprietary data. DHS must give Congress advance notice before large grants or contracts, with limited safety exceptions. DHS must send quarterly obligation and fee-collection plans and TSA must deliver capital and technology plans within 45 days of the President’s budget. If DHS’s FY2027 budget counts on not-yet-enacted user fees, the Secretary must propose matching cuts within 60 days.

Naturalization oath stays the same

Funds in this law cannot be used to change the words of the naturalization oath. People becoming U.S. citizens keep the current oath language.

No screening shortcuts for top officials

Members of Congress and many senior federal officials must go through the same passenger and baggage screening as everyone else. Funds cannot be used to change this rule.

Airport security fund can buy detectors

For fiscal year 2026, the Aviation Security Capital Fund can pay to buy and install explosives detection systems. It can also use other transaction agreements to fund eligible airport security projects. This applies only for FY2026.

More CBP funds and territory support

The law adds $31 million for CBP Operations and Support, reduced by certain FY2026 collections. If collections exceed $31 million, the extra is added and stays available until spent. CBP can also use specified appropriations to cover customs costs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to keep operations running and avoid staff problems, in addition to existing law.

More money for Supreme Court operations

The law provides $30 million for Supreme Court salaries and expenses. The money is available until September 30, 2028 and follows the same rules as similar 2026 appropriations.

No armed drones or non-autonomous surveillance

DHS cannot buy or equip long-range drones with weapons. DHS also cannot buy or deploy border surveillance systems that are not autonomous, using the law’s definition of autonomous.

Secret Service protection, training, budget rules

Secret Service funds cannot protect other agency heads unless fully reimbursed. The Service may obligate funds in advance of reimbursements for Rowley Training Center courses but must stay within year-end resources. Up to $15,000,000 may be reprogrammed within the Operations and Support account. $2,000,000 supports the National Computer Forensics Institute.

Tighter controls on intelligence funding moves

Classified program funding must follow the directions in the classified annex and section 545. The Director of National Intelligence may transfer funds to meet higher-priority, unforeseen needs, with required approvals, caps, and procedures. Transfers cannot fund items Congress denied.

Coast Guard drones and yacht fee rule

The law provides $98 million for the Coast Guard to buy MQ-9 aircraft, base stations, equipment, and program management, available through September 30, 2030. It also stops using Operations money for recreational vessel documentation unless yacht owner fees cover those costs. If fees are short and there is a backlog, other documentation staff may help process those applications.

Buy American and small purchase rules

Funds must follow the Buy American Act unless another law says otherwise. Agencies may use Operations and Support funds for minor projects: up to $250,000 per personal property item and up to $4,000,000 per real property item.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]

OK • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.