--- kind: "section" citation: "6 U.S.C. § 126" title: "6" title_heading: "Domestic Security" number: "126" heading: "Department of Homeland Security data framework" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/126" units: - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization" - "Subchapter II — Information Analysis" - "Part A — Information and Analysis; Access to Information" --- # §126. Department of Homeland Security data framework - (a) **In general—** - (1) **Development—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall develop a data framework to integrate existing [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security datasets and systems, as appropriate, for access by authorized [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) in a manner consistent with relevant legal authorities and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties policies and protections. - (2) **Requirements—** In developing the framework required under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall ensure, in accordance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, the following information is included: - (A) All information acquired, held, or obtained by an office or component of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security that falls within the scope of the information sharing environment, including [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security information, [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) information, weapons of mass destruction information, and national intelligence. - (B) Any information or intelligence relevant to priority mission needs and capability requirements of the [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security enterprise, as determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16). - (b) **Data framework access—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall ensure that the data framework required under this section is accessible to employees of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security who the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) determines— - (A) have an appropriate security clearance; - (B) are assigned to perform a function that requires access to information in such framework; and - (C) are trained in applicable standards for safeguarding and using such information. - (2) **Guidance—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall— - (A) issue guidance for [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security employees authorized to access and contribute to the data framework pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#b-1); and - (B) ensure that such guidance enforces a duty to share between offices and components of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) when accessing or contributing to such framework for mission needs. - (3) **Efficiency—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall promulgate data standards and instruct components of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security to make available information through the data framework required under this section in a machine-readable standard format, to the greatest extent practicable. - (c) **Exclusion of information—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security may exclude information from the data framework required under this section if the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) determines inclusion of such information may— - (1) jeopardize the protection of sources, methods, or activities; - (2) compromise a criminal or national security investigation; - (3) be inconsistent with other Federal laws or regulations; or - (4) be duplicative or not serve an operational purpose if included in such framework. - (d) **Safeguards—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall incorporate into the data framework required under this section systems capabilities for auditing and ensuring the security of information included in such framework. Such capabilities shall include the following: - (1) Mechanisms for identifying insider threats. - (2) Mechanisms for identifying security risks. - (3) Safeguards for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. - (e) **Deadline for implementation—** Not later than 2 years after December 19, 2018, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall ensure the data framework required under this section has the ability to include appropriate information in existence within the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security to meet the critical mission operations of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security. - (f) **Notice to Congress—** - (1) **Status updates—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall submit to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/101.md?p=2) regular updates on the status of the data framework until the framework is fully operational. - (2) **Operational notification—** Not later than 60 days after the date on which the data framework required under this section is fully operational, the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall provide notice to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/101.md?p=2) that the data framework is fully operational. - (3) **Value added—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security shall annually brief Congress on component use of the data framework required under this section to support operations that disrupt terrorist activities and [incidents](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) in the [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1). - (g) **Definitions—** In this section: - (1) **Appropriate congressional committee; homeland—** The terms “[appropriate congressional committee](/usc/6/101.md?p=2)” and “[homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1)” have the meaning given those terms in [section 101 of this title](/usc/6/101.md). - (2) **Homeland security information—** The term “[homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security information” has the meaning given such term in [section 482 of this title](/usc/6/482.md). - (3) **National intelligence—** The term “national intelligence” has the meaning given such term in [section 3003(5) of title 50](/usc/50/3003.md?p=5). - (4) **Terrorism information—** The term “[terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) information” has the meaning given such term in [section 485 of this title](/usc/6/485.md). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 115–331, § 2, Dec. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 4484.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Codification Section was enacted as part of the Department of Homeland Security Data Framework Act of 2018, and not as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which comprises this chapter.