The Department of Homeland Security's Engagement, Liaison, and Outreach (ELO) office — the unit that coordinates outreach with state and local law enforcement — would be reorganized under this bill. DHS's Secretary would have 120 days to send Congress a detailed plan explaining which jobs or programs are redundant, how the office's functions would move into a different DHS unit called Partner Engagement, and what it would cost. The Secretary would also need to certify to Congress, within 60 days of starting the changes, that implementation is underway. Until that plan and certification happen, DHS could not grow the ELO office's staff, budget, or duties, or quietly stand up a new office doing the same work without Congress signing off. The bill affects DHS's internal organization and its relationships with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, not the general public directly.
Transparency & Accountability
- Congressional reporting requirement — DHS must submit a reorganization plan within 120 days
- Congressional authorization requirement — New offices duplicating ELO functions need congressional sign-off
- Implementation certification — Secretary must certify plan implementation to Congress within 60 days
Congressional Summary
ELO Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act of 2026This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a comprehensive plan to reorganize its Engagement, Liaison, and Outreach (ELO) Office and submit such plan to Congress. The bill also limits certain DHS actions until DHS submits the plan to Congress and certifies that it is being implemented.ELO is part of DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A). ELO manages strategic relationships with I&A’s international stakeholders and federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners, including by facilitating intelligence and information sharing.Under the bill, the plan mustidentify redundant or non-essential positions, programs, or functions within ELO; specify how reorganization of ELO will address such redundant or non-essential positions, programs, or functions;realign essential functions and personnel of ELO within the Partner Engagement directorate of I&A; andimprove the management and coordination of strategic relationships with priority law enforcement agencies.Until DHS submits this plan to Congress and certifies that it is being implemented, DHS may not (1) expand the staffing, budget, or programmatic scope of ELO; or (2) establish new offices duplicating the mission of ELO or the Partner Engagement directorate without congressional authorization.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-02-13
- Date Added
- 2026-07-11
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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