---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 677b"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "677b"
heading: "Declaration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/677b"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XVIII — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency"
  - "Part C — Declaration of a Significant Incident"
---

# §677b. Declaration

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Declaration—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3), in consultation with the National Cyber [Director](/usc/6/650.md?p=10), may make a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) of a [significant incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=8) in accordance with this section for the purpose of enabling the activities described in this part if the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) determines that—
    - (A) a specific [significant incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=8)—
      - (i) has occurred; or
      - (ii) is likely to occur imminently; and
    - (B) otherwise available resources, other than the [Fund](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5), are likely insufficient to respond effectively to, or to mitigate effectively, the specific [significant incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=8) described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A).
  - (2) **Prohibition on delegation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) may not delegate the authority provided to the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Asset response activities—** Upon a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2), the [Director](/usc/6/650.md?p=10) shall coordinate—
  - (1) the [asset response activities](/usc/6/677a.md?p=1) of each [Federal agency](/usc/6/677a.md?p=4) in response to the specific [significant incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=8) associated with the [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2); and
  - (2) with appropriate [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2), which may include—
    - (A) public and private [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) and [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) and [local governments](/usc/6/101.md?p=13) with respect to the [asset response activities](/usc/6/677a.md?p=1) of those [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) and governments; and
    - (B) Federal, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and Tribal law enforcement [agencies](/usc/6/650.md?p=1) with respect to investigations and threat response activities of those law enforcement [agencies](/usc/6/650.md?p=1); and
  - (3) Federal, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and Tribal [emergency management](/usc/6/701.md?p=7) and response [agencies](/usc/6/650.md?p=1).
- (c) **Duration—** Subject to [subsection (d)](#d), a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) shall terminate upon the earlier of—
  - (1) a determination by the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) that the [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) is no longer necessary; or
  - (2) the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) makes the [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2).
- (d) **Renewal—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3), without delegation, may renew a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) as necessary.
- (e) **Publication—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 72 hours after a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) or a [renewal](/usc/6/677a.md?p=7), the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) shall publish the [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) or [renewal](/usc/6/677a.md?p=7) in the Federal Register.
  - (2) **Prohibition—** A [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) or [renewal](/usc/6/677a.md?p=7) published under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) may not include the name of any affected individual or private company.
- (f) **Advance actions—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3)—
    - (A) shall assess the resources available to respond to a potential [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2); and
    - (B) may take actions before and while a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2) is in effect to arrange or procure additional resources for [asset response activities](/usc/6/677a.md?p=1) or technical assistance the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) determines necessary, which may include entering into standby contracts with private [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) for cybersecurity services or [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) responders in the event of a [declaration](/usc/6/677a.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Expenditure of funds—** Any expenditure from the [Fund](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) for the purpose of [paragraph (1)(B)](#f-1-B) shall be made from amounts available in the [Fund](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5), and amounts available in the [Fund](/usc/6/677a.md?p=5) shall be in addition to any other appropriations available to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security [Agency](/usc/6/650.md?p=1) for such purpose.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXII, § 2233, as added Pub. L. 117–58, div. G, title VI, § 70602(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1268.)