Title 6Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73not60

§126 Department of Homeland Security Data Framework

Title 6 › Chapter 1— HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter II— INFORMATION ANALYSIS › Part A— Information and Analysis; Access to Information › § 126

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Homeland Security must build a shared data framework that brings together existing DHS data and systems so authorized staff can access needed information while following laws and privacy and civil rights protections. The framework must include information that fits the information-sharing rules (like homeland security, terrorism, WMD, and national intelligence) and any other intelligence needed for DHS mission priorities, as the Secretary decides. Only DHS employees with the right security clearance, a job need to use the data, and training in handling it may access the framework. The Secretary must issue rules for who can use and add data, require offices to share when it’s needed for missions, and set data standards so information is machine-readable when practical. The Secretary can leave out data that would risk exposing sources or methods, harm investigations, conflict with other laws, or be needless or duplicative. The system must include tools to audit access, spot insider threats and security risks, and protect privacy and civil rights. The framework must be able to hold relevant DHS information no later than 2 years after December 19, 2018. The Secretary must give regular updates to the appropriate congressional committees until it is fully operational, notify them within 60 days after it becomes fully operational, and brief Congress each year on how components use it to disrupt terrorist activities. Defined terms (one line each): “appropriate congressional committee” and “homeland” — see section 101; “homeland security information” — see section 482; “national intelligence” — see 50 U.S.C. 3003(5); “terrorism information” — see section 485.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §126

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a data framework to integrate existing Department of Homeland Security datasets and systems, as appropriate, for access by authorized personnel in a manner consistent with relevant legal authorities and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties policies and protections.
(2)In developing the framework required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure, in accordance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, the following information is included:
(A)All information acquired, held, or obtained by an office or component of the Department of Homeland Security that falls within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information, and national intelligence.
(B)Any information or intelligence relevant to priority mission needs and capability requirements of the homeland security enterprise, as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(b)(1)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that the data framework required under this section is accessible to employees of the Department of Homeland Security who the Secretary determines—
(A)have an appropriate security clearance;
(B)are assigned to perform a function that requires access to information in such framework; and
(C)are trained in applicable standards for safeguarding and using such information.
(2)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(A)issue guidance for Department of Homeland Security employees authorized to access and contribute to the data framework pursuant to paragraph (1); and
(B)ensure that such guidance enforces a duty to share between offices and components of the Department when accessing or contributing to such framework for mission needs.
(3)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall promulgate data standards and instruct components of the Department of Homeland Security to make available information through the data framework required under this section in a machine-readable standard format, to the greatest extent practicable.
(c)The Secretary of Homeland Security may exclude information from the data framework required under this section if the Secretary determines inclusion of such information may—
(1)jeopardize the protection of sources, methods, or activities;
(2)compromise a criminal or national security investigation;
(3)be inconsistent with other Federal laws or regulations; or
(4)be duplicative or not serve an operational purpose if included in such framework.
(d)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall incorporate into the data framework required under this section systems capabilities for auditing and ensuring the security of information included in such framework. Such capabilities shall include the following:
(1)Mechanisms for identifying insider threats.
(2)Mechanisms for identifying security risks.
(3)Safeguards for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
(e)Not later than 2 years after December 19, 2018, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure the data framework required under this section has the ability to include appropriate information in existence within the Department of Homeland Security to meet the critical mission operations of the Department of Homeland Security.
(f)(1)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees regular updates on the status of the data framework until the framework is fully operational.
(2)Not later than 60 days after the date on which the data framework required under this section is fully operational, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide notice to the appropriate congressional committees that the data framework is fully operational.
(3)The Secretary of Homeland Security shall annually brief Congress on component use of the data framework required under this section to support operations that disrupt terrorist activities and incidents in the homeland.
(g)In this section:
(1)The terms “appropriate congressional committee” and “homeland” have the meaning given those terms in section 101 of this title.
(2)The term “homeland security information” has the meaning given such term in section 482 of this title.
(3)The term “national intelligence” has the meaning given such term in section 3003(5) of title 50.
(4)The term “terrorism information” has the meaning given such term in section 485 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2018, and not as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 126

Title 6Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60