Summary
Gives money to the Department of Homeland Security for the 2026 fiscal year to pay for its operations, like border protection and disaster response.
What problem does this solve?
Government agencies need money from Congress each year to operate and protect the country. This bill provides the necessary funding for the Department of Homeland Security to continue its work for the 2026 fiscal year.
Who does this affect?
- Department of Homeland Security employees
- Immigrants and travelers
- U.S. residents in disaster-prone areas
What does this bill do?
Funds the Disaster Relief Fund
Provides $26.3 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, which is used to help communities recover from major disasters like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.
Funds U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Gives over $17.7 billion for CBP to support its operations, including border security, trade, and travel functions.
Funds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Provides over $10 billion for ICE operations, which include investigations, enforcement, and removal of undocumented immigrants.
Funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Allocates over $10.6 billion for the TSA to support its security operations at airports and other transportation hubs.
Funds the U.S. Coast Guard
Gives over $11.2 billion for Coast Guard operations, including search and rescue, law enforcement, and national defense activities.
Prohibits restraints on pregnant detainees
Stops the use of restraints on pregnant women in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, except in specific cases where they are a flight risk or a threat.
Ensures congressional oversight access
Prevents funds from being used to stop a Member of Congress or their staff from entering any DHS facility used to house or detain non-citizens for oversight purposes.
Requires screening for government officials
States that Members of Congress, federal agency heads, and senior White House officials are not exempt from federal passenger and baggage screening at airports.
Funds body-worn cameras
Provides $20 million for the purchase and use of body-worn cameras for agents and officers involved in enforcement activities.
Bans new border crossing fees
Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from creating any new fees for pedestrians, cyclists, or people in private vehicles crossing the U.S. land border.
Ends contracts with poorly-rated detention centers
Stops funding for private detention contracts if the facility receives two recent performance reviews that are less than 'adequate'.
What is the real world impact?
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Funds essential government security functions
Provides the necessary annual funding for the Department of Homeland Security and its many agencies, such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service. Without this funding, these agencies would shut down, which could risk national security, stop disaster relief, and halt border operations.
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Includes specific policy instructions
Uses a must-pass funding bill to direct how the Department of Homeland Security can and cannot spend its money. This includes rules on things like the treatment of pregnant detainees, contracts for detention centers, and access for members of Congress to facilities.
When does this start?
The funding and rules in this bill apply to the fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2026, and includes several reporting deadlines.
ICE spending plan
The Director of ICE must submit a detailed spending plan within 30 days of the bill becoming law.
CBP spending plan
The Commissioner of CBP must submit a plan for how it will spend money on new projects and buildings within 90 days of the bill becoming law.
Report on non-competitive contracts
The Secretary of Homeland Security must submit a report by October 15, 2026, listing all contracts that were awarded without a full and open competition.
Review of non-competitive contracts
The Inspector General must review the report on non-competitive contracts and report the findings by February 15, 2027.