To provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to transfer funds between accounts under the Department of Homeland Security during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would give the Secretary of Homeland Security a special financial tool to use during a government shutdown — specifically, the ability to move money between different budget accounts within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Normally, when Congress fails to pass a spending bill and a funding lapse occurs, federal agencies face strict restrictions on how they can use money. This bill would create an exception for DHS, allowing its leadership to shift available funds from one part of the department to another to keep critical operations running.

The practical effect would be that during a shutdown, DHS could potentially continue funding essential activities — such as border security, immigration enforcement, customs operations, or emergency management — by redirecting money from accounts that have it to areas that need it most. Without this authority, certain DHS operations could be forced to slow down or stop entirely if their specific funding runs out during a lapse in appropriations.

This bill would primarily affect DHS employees and operations, as well as the American public who relies on services the department provides, such as airport security (TSA), border patrol, FEMA disaster response, and immigration processing. It was referred to three House committees — Homeland Security, the Judiciary, and Ways and Means — suggesting it touches on border, immigration, and potentially tax or trade-related functions. The bill is still in early stages and has not yet been voted on.