Committee Approves FY27 Homeland Security Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 34 to 27. 

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Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei (R-NV) said, "First, I’d like to thank each member of this subcommittee for working together to deliver a bill that embodies responsible legislating. We all know the importance of this agency and the work it does every day to secure our homeland. While it has been no easy feat to chair a subcommittee in such a polarized environment, this bill was drafted with a deliberate focus on building upon investments that have strengthened our capabilities while ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most. 

"At its core, this bill maintains our strong posture on immigration enforcement, expands the use of technology to detect and stop deadly drugs from entering our communities, provides resources to investigate and protect victims of exploitation and human trafficking, streamlines preparedness and security efforts for upcoming and major national events, modernizes maritime operations, strengthens disaster response efforts, and helps deter ongoing aggression generated by nation-state adversaries. 

"It has been an absolute honor to serve as a cardinal on the Appropriations Committee. I am proud of what we have accomplished over the years, especially our diligence to restore regular order and bring fiscal sanity back to the appropriations process under Chairman Cole’s leadership. While you can never say mission accomplished in this business, I feel incredibly grateful to be concluding my service with a strong proposal such as this and a deep appreciation for the colleagues and staff who make the work possible."

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Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, "Securing the homeland and protecting the American people is among the federal government's most fundamental responsibilities. The just-reported FY27 Homeland Security bill provides the personnel, technology, and resources necessary to secure our borders, enforce our laws, combat illicit drug trafficking, strengthen cybersecurity defenses, and bolster disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. This legislation takes a comprehensive approach to the threats facing our nation. It builds on the Trump Administration's success in restoring operational control of the border, supports the frontline personnel who carry out critical homeland security missions every day, strengthens Coast Guard capabilities, and enhances our ability to confront challenges whether they emerge at our borders, in cyberspace, on our shores, or in communities across the country. From transnational criminal organizations and cyberattacks to natural disasters and emerging security threats, this bill ensures America is prepared. I commend Chairman Amodei for his leadership in developing this measure and guiding it through the appropriations process. As the final appropriations bill he will lead in Congress, it reflects the steady judgment, practical leadership, and commitment to mission that have defined his service. The result is a stronger, more capable homeland security enterprise prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow." 

Subcommittee Chairman Amodei's opening remarks are available here.
Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

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Fiscal Year 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations Act

The Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $64.9 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which $2.9 billion is provided for defense activities. The bill also includes $6.2 billion in discretionary appropriations that are offset by fee collections and $28.39 billion as an allocation adjustment for major disaster response and recovery activities.

The legislation includes the resources required to protect the homeland and keep American communities safe, secure, and resilient. The bill provides the necessary personnel, training, and technology to secure our air, land, and maritime borders and the nation’s critical infrastructure against nation-state adversaries.

Key Takeaways

Champions public safety and homeland preparedness by: 

• Upholding the America First vision by realigning DHS priorities around its fundamental mission: defending the nation against the threat posed by terrorists, criminals, and foreign adversaries to ensure the safety and security of every American.
• Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities.
• Partnering with state and local law enforcement to enhance immigration enforcement and homeland defense capabilities.
• Protecting vulnerable children by strengthening investigations of exploitation, human trafficking, and forced labor.
• Bolstering disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders.
• Supporting security preparation and planning for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and other National Special Security Events.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

• Enhancing the operational execution of Public Law 119-21, which prioritizes security and safety through long-term border security and immigration investments.
• Funding the military pay raise for Coast Guard servicemembers.
• Prohibiting funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
• Ensuring no funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitated the Biden border crisis.
• Codifying the Trump Administration’s reductions to bloated federal bureaucracy.

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

• Providing $3.8 billion for ICE custody operations to strengthen the Trump Administration’s efforts to detain and deport all criminal and removable aliens.
• Providing $439 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
• Providing $226 million to improve baggage screening equipment at airports.
• Providing $135 million to counter China by increasing the Coast Guard’s Indo-Pacific footprint.
• Providing $97 million for unmanned systems to improve maritime domain awareness.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

• Reallocating $100 million from previous appropriations to sustain the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) core mission functions.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have:  

• Attempted to over-resource an office beyond operational need.
• Weakened physical border security infrastructure.
• Restricted CBP and ICE authorities.
• Obstructed reforms to modernize grant rules.
• Sought to impose limitations on homeland security funding Democrats previously opposed.
• Hindered law enforcement's ability to arrest or detain criminals.
• Enabled Democrats to rescind funding they never supported and reallocate it to their priorities.
• Promoted mass migration in the United States. 
• Restricted DHS’s ability to protect communities using common law-enforcement tools.
• Mandated a partisan-focused report unrelated to DHS’s core mission.
• Expanded bureaucracy and regulations to address nonexistent problems.
• Made it harder to enforce America’s federal immigration laws.
• Weakened screening and vetting resources for inbound travelers and cargo transactions.
• Pushed pro-union policies on government workers.
• Undermined efforts to maintain adequate detention capacity through unnecessary location restrictions.
• Increased taxpayer spending without offsets.

Adopted Amendments 

• Amodei (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report. 
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Clyde #1 – Protects free speech by blocking funding for government efforts to monitor or influence lawful speech. 
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Frankel #1 – Prohibits funding provided in the amendment for third-country removals without court approval; the amendment has no impact on any federal funding provided to ICE. 
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Escobar #5 – Requires findings of an ongoing investigation to be submitted to the committee. 
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Escobar #6 – Allows for the recouperation of certain charges at an ICE facility. 
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.
  

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