U.S. Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Laurel Lee (R-FL) re-introduced legislation this week they said would improve transparency and oversight of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A).
The legislation would require the office to conduct an annual audit of I&A’s information systems and bulk data, as well as provide a report on the audit to Congress. The legislation was originally introduced in the 118th Congress and passed by the House in December.
“As a veteran and former law enforcement officer, I understand the importance of optimizing systems to better protect our communities,” Evans said. “A significant portion of the Department of Homeland Security’s data does not have intelligence or operational value, which bogs down the efficiency of operations and distracts from the larger mission of protecting our nation. This bipartisan effort will improve government efficiency and direct resources to better protect Americans.”
Currently, I&A is required to audit bulk data transferred to or from the office to assess if personnel’s access to the data, and searches of the data conducted by DHS personnel, are appropriately limited. However, a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the office has not fully implemented oversight guidelines on bulk data collection activities and has not conducted an audit of the bulk data collections outlined in the Intelligence Oversight Guidelines.
Officials said the House Committee on Homeland Security had conducted oversight of I&A to address the office’s shortcomings in providing intelligence and information to state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement partners. The legislation is geared toward an ongoing effort to address those issues, the legislators said.