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119-hr-7435119th Congress

DHS Intelligence Transparency and Oversight Program Office and Ombuds Act

Sponsored By: Representative Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

In Committee

Summary

Creates an independent Intelligence Transparency and Oversight Program Office and a dedicated Ombuds to scrutinize DHS intelligence for timeliness, objectivity, and politicization. This office would review intelligence activities and help decide what can be released publicly while protecting sensitive information.

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  • DHS intelligence staff get a confidential, retaliation-free forum to raise concerns about politicization, biased reporting, or civil rights and civil liberties abuses. The Ombuds can initiate reviews and make recommendations to component leaders.
  • The Ombuds must be a senior career employee with experience in intelligence and civil rights enforcement and may not hold any other DHS position.
  • Heads of DHS intelligence components must provide formal responses to Ombuds recommendations and meet Ombuds information requests on a 60-day timeline.
  • The Ombuds would report to relevant House and Senate committees within one year and annually after that, and may report directly to Congress on urgent concerns. The office would also help balance public disclosure with homeland security protections.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New DHS intelligence oversight office

If enacted, DHS would create an Intelligence Transparency and Oversight Program Office led by a senior career Ombuds. The Ombuds would not hold any other DHS job and would need experience in intelligence and civil rights work. The Ombuds would report to the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis and notify Congress about urgent concerns. The office would review DHS intelligence activities (collection, analysis, production, and dissemination) and advise on objectivity, political independence, and privacy protections. The Ombuds could request any DHS information needed, and the Secretary would have to provide requested information within 60 days. Heads of DHS intelligence units would have to respond formally to Ombuds recommendations within 60 days. Not later than one year after enactment, and annually after that, the Ombuds would send a report covering the prior 12 months to House Homeland Security, House Intelligence, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Senate Intelligence committees.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

RI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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