Bill · H.R. 9314· House(119-HR-9314)
DHS Surveillance Technology Moratorium Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 6/15/2026
- Last activity
- 7/7/2026 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
- Sponsored by
- Daniel Goldman
- Cosponsors
- - 8 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "DHS Surveillance Technology Moratorium Act of 2026" stops the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from spending money on new, renewed, or expanded contracts for surveillance and data analytics technologies used for immigration enforcement. This pause remains in effect until the DHS Inspector General completes an audit and a public report is published. The bill requires a detailed review of how personal data is collected and whether it impacts civil liberties or U.S. citizens. Once the moratorium ends, the Secretary must provide reports to Congress on the safeguards in place. Additionally, the DHS must provide an annual public report on its use of these technologies moving forward.
Yes· 3 of 30
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+9
Directly targets the reduction and auditing of invasive surveillance and data collection.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+8
Mandates public reports on surveillance technologies, contractors, and privacy impact assessments.
Would immigrants be better off under this?+7
Reduces the expansion of technologies used to track and identify individuals for immigration enforcement.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?-8
Imposes a moratorium on the expansion and acquisition of domestic surveillance technologies.
Does this tighten control of the border?-3
May temporarily hinder the acquisition of new surveillance tools used for border and immigration enforcement.
Would business owners be better off under this?-2
Negative for surveillance technology contractors who lose potential government contracts.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency: The bill requires the Secretary to publish an unclassified and publicly available report listing all used surveillance technologies, the names of contractors, and the purposes of the technology (Section 5(a)).
-
Protection of Privacy and Civil Liberties: The bill mandates an audit to examine the privacy and civil liberties impacts of these technologies, as well as their use during lawful protests, assembly, or protected speech (Section 4(b)).
-
Accountability for Data Use: The bill requires an examination of whether data relating to United States citizens is collected, retained, or analyzed (Section 4(b)).
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Ongoing Oversight: After the moratorium ends, the DHS must publish an annual report including summaries of privacy and civil liberties complaints and their resolutions (Section 7(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential Delay in Threat Response: While there is an exception for imminent violence or national security threats, the general moratorium stops the award or expansion of contracts unless a case-by-case waiver is granted by the Secretary (Section 3(a) and 3(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants+7Good For Hispanic Americans+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For Students+3Good For Urban Residents+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Billionaires+2Good For High Income Households+2Good For High Net Worth Individuals+2Good For Middle Aged+2Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Retirees+2Good For Rural Residents+2Good For Seniors+2Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals+2Good For White Americans+2Good For Business Owners-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+9Improves Government Transparency+8Improves Freedom Of Speech+5Improves Due Process+3Increases Federal Power-2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+7Increases Big Tech Regulation+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+5Improves Policing Reform+4Improves Racial Equity+3Improves Border Security-3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Increases Domestic Surveillance-8
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+1Reduces Government Spending+1
- 7/7/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
- 7/6/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 6/15/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Nikema WilliamsDemocrat · Georgia