DHS Reform Act of 2020 2020-11-19 Introduced in House Department of Homeland Security Reform Act of 2020 or the DHS Reform Act of 2020

This bill makes extensive changes to the structure of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and to the responsbilities of DHS components.

Specifically, the bill, among other things

  • creates a new Associate Secretary responsible for overseeing DHS's law enforcement functions;
  • modifies the responsibilities of the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, including to engage with individuals and communities whose civil rights and liberties may be affected by DHS programs and activities;
  • directs DHS to establish an employee engagement steering committee to identify factors that have a negative impact on employee engagement, morale, and communications within DHS;
  • establishes within DHS a school security coordinating council;
  • requires that DHS's use-of-force policy be updated to emphasize de-escalation;
  • requires DHS to carry out an intelligence and cybersecurity diversity fellowship program;
  • grants rights to Transportation Security Administration officers under the federal personnel system; and
  • requires DHS to issue a DHS-wide strategy to enhance partnerships with historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutes that includes yearly goals.
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