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Congress·Reported·3 months ago

House Committee Advances Intelligence Authorization Act for 2026, Banning DeepSeek and Creating AI Security Playbook

Also known as: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Negative Impacts(1)
Cryptocurrency Investor
Hurts

Expanded intelligence collection on transnational criminal organizations includes cryptocurrency tracking and monitoring of digital financial transactions.

Mixed Impacts(4)
Federal Employee
Neutral

New hiring rules prohibit requiring political activism for promotions, but also create new training requirements and reporting obligations for intelligence workers.

Immigrant
Neutral

Enhanced counterintelligence activities may increase scrutiny of foreign nationals, but linguistic diversity is recognized as valuable for intelligence work.

Naturalized Citizen
Neutral

Increased counterintelligence measures may affect naturalized citizens with ties to countries of concern, though linguistic skills remain valued.

Small Business Owner
Neutral

AI security measures may create compliance requirements for small tech companies selling to intelligence agencies, but also protect against foreign theft.

Positive Impacts(2)
Military Veteran
Helps

Certain CIA service will now count as active-duty service for VA benefits, expanding healthcare and disability coverage for qualifying veterans.

Student
Helps

New funding for intelligence community training programs and the National Intelligence University provides expanded educational opportunities.

Key Points

  • This bill sets the rules and funding for U.S. spy agencies for 2026. It creates a new National Counterintelligence Center to better protect the country from foreign spies and influence. It also sets aside $674.5 million for managing these agencies and $514 million for CIA retirement and disability programs.
  • The policy bans the use of the DeepSeek application on any intelligence computer systems to protect national secrets. It also requires the government to create an "AI Security Playbook" to stop foreign countries from stealing American artificial intelligence technology and secrets.
  • Congress is requiring new, regular reports on the economic and technological power of China compared to the United States. It also ensures that the U.S. continues to provide intelligence and satellite imagery to help Ukraine defend its territory against Russia.
  • New rules are being set for how agencies buy and use "open-source" information, which is data anyone can find online or buy from companies. If an agency accidentally collects information about a U.S. citizen while looking at this public data, they are now required to delete it.
  • The bill changes how people are hired and promoted within the intelligence community. It prohibits agencies from requiring employees to engage in political or ideological activism to get a job or a promotion, and it mandates that personnel decisions be based on merit.
National SecurityForeign PolicyTechnologyArtificial IntelligenceCybersecurity

Milestones

4 milestones8 actions
Nov 28, 2025House

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 339.

Nov 28, 2025House

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Intelligence. H. Rept. 119-389.

Nov 28, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Intelligence. H. Rept. 119-389.

Sep 10, 2025House

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Sep 10, 2025House

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

immediate

Intelligence agencies must remove DeepSeek app from all computer systems

Workers in spy agencies will be prohibited from using the Chinese AI application DeepSeek on government computers to prevent data leaks

short_term

National Counterintelligence Center officially established

A new agency will coordinate all U.S. efforts to stop foreign spies, requiring Senate confirmation of its director

within one year

AI Security Playbook completed and published

The government will release guidelines on how to protect advanced AI technology from being stolen by foreign countries like China

Related News

2 articles
The Washington Times·5 months ago

House intel chair seeks to reform 'disjointed' counterspy system

The House Intelligence Committee passed a major reform package within the FY2026 Intelligence Authorization Act to create a National Counterintelligence Center. The center aims to unify counterspy activities across the CIA, FBI, and NSA to better combat threats from China and Russia.

CR=
Taiwan News·6 months ago

US bill calls for sharing Ukraine war lessons with Taiwan

The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 includes a provision directing the U.S. to evaluate and share tactical lessons from the Ukraine conflict with Taiwan. It also mandates continued intelligence and satellite imagery support for Ukraine's defense against Russia.

C=

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Bill NumberHR 5167
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionPlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 339.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.