YourVoice.Now Summary
Transparency & AccountabilityCreates a DOE-run center for sharing classified cyber-threat information with power companies, exempt from FOIA requests, funded through 2031.
Transparency & Accountability
- FOIA exemption — Info shared under the energy cyber program is withheld from public-records requests
- FACA oversight — Program exempted from open-meeting and transparency rules for advisory committees
- Standard contracting review — Secretary can use pre-approved, expedited procedures for partnerships
The details
The Department of Energy currently runs a program to help protect the nation's power grid and energy companies from cyberattacks, created by the 2021 infrastructure law. This bill, the Energy Threat Analysis Center Act, would let the Department set up a formal Energy Threat Analysis Center where government officials and energy-sector companies can share classified and unclassified information about cyber threats and coordinate a response. It exempts information shared through the program from public-records requests under the Freedom of Information Act and from the federal law that normally requires advisory committees involving outside groups to hold open meetings. The Secretary of Energy would also get authority to use pre-approved, expedited contracting procedures to quickly bring on partners for this work. The bill extends funding authority for the underlying cybersecurity program from 2026 through 2031.
Congressional Summary
Energy Threat Analysis Center Act of 2026This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and expands the pilot Energy Sector Operational Support for Cyber Resilience Program of the Department of Energy (DOE). The program aims to protect energy infrastructure through collaboration between the federal government and the energy sector and enhancing DOE’s emergency response capabilities.Specifically, the bill expands the program objectives to include enhancing collaboration between the government and the energy sector to address threats to energy systems,advancing the collective understanding of national security risks and vulnerabilities associated with the energy sector that may be exploited by adversaries, andhelping the energy sector increase its understanding of tactics of adversaries that present risks to the energy sector.The bill allows DOE to establish an Energy Threat Analysis Center at one or more physical locations for program activities.The bill also eliminates technical assistance provided under the program to small electric utilities.Under the bill, the decision to provide assistance or information under the program to a governmental or private entity is at the sole discretion of the Secretary of Energy and is unreviewable.The bill authorizes the Secretary to (1) enter into and perform contracts, grants, and other transactions with public agencies, private organizations, and persons to carry out the program; and (2) establish and utilize preapproved national security contracting mechanisms, model partnership agreements, and expedited review procedures for purposes of entering into such transactions.In addition, the bill exempts the program from certain public disclosure and other transparency requirements.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-12
- Date Added
- 2026-06-26
- Source
- Congress.gov →
Like reading a bill in plain English?
We're building an app that does this for every bill in Congress and lets you tell your reps how you want them to vote. We're a small team getting ready to launch, and we're trying to show investors that real people want this. Be one of them. Help us get it built. Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment the app is ready.