Rep. Thompson, Homeland Security Democrats reintroduce legislation initiating DHS reform

House Committee on Homeland Security Democrats reintroduced last week legislation designed to initiate reform within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, recently joined Committee Democrats in sponsoring the DHS Reform Act of 2021 to address agency challenges and prevent the agency from being utilized as a political weapon.

“We are introducing the DHS Reform Act with clear and common-sense reform measures to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse – including violations of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties,” Thompson said. “The DHS Reform Act will help build back DHS better, put it on a path to normalcy, and to help inoculate it from future misuse. For DHS to effectively secure the nation from the diverse threats that it faces, the public must have confidence that the Department is both transparent and accountable.”

Bill provisions, per authorities, include promoting leadership continuity by restricting the use of acting officials; creating a new Associate Secretary position responsible for overseeing DHS’s law enforcement missions; strengthening civil rights and civil liberties protections in DHS policies, programs, and activities; requiring updating of the agency’s use-of-force policy as a means of focusing on de-escalation; and requiring enhanced accountability and transparency upon deployment of DHS officers.