HR 7844 — 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.

Summary

This bill would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to transfer unobligated funds between Department of Homeland Security accounts during a lapse in appropriations (government shutdown). The bill would allow the Secretary to transfer certain unobligated funds from appropriations made under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to other DHS accounts. However, the bill prohibits transferring funds to the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The bill also prohibits using transferred funds to hire personnel for vacant positions. This measure would provide DHS with flexibility to maintain operations during a government funding lapse.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA)

11 cosponsors

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC)
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] (D-CA)
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX)
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA)
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV)
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA)
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA)
Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16] (D-CA)
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA)
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA)
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA)

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Scott H. Peters’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

RA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT $19,800
BLACKSTONE $17,500
GENERAL ATOMICS $15,400
QUALCOMM $13,300
RA CAPITAL $13,200

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Scott H. Peters → · Outside spending →

Actions (3)

Mar 6, 2026 Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability. · house
Mar 5, 2026 Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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. · house
Mar 5, 2026 Introduced in House

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

Full text

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 5, 2026

Mr. Peters (for himself and Mr. Horsford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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

A BILL

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TRANSFER OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDS.

(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), during a lapse in appropriations with respect to the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security may transfer to other accounts of the Department of Homeland Security—

(1) any unobligated funds appropriated under section 90005 or 90007 of Public Law 119-21 (commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”); and

(2) any unobligated funds appropriated or otherwise made available under Public Law 119-21 (commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(b) Prohibited Transfers.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not exercise the authority provided under subsection (a) to transfer funds to any account of—

(1) the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management;

(2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; or

(3) U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(c) Prohibition on Hiring.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not use any funds transferred under subsection (a) to appoint any individual to a vacant position within the Department of Homeland Security. <all>

Comments

Loading comments…