House Intelligence Bill Proposes State-Local Cyber Threat Sharing, AI Integration
A proposed House Intelligence Committee bill aims to enhance cybersecurity by establishing a pilot program for sharing threat intelligence with state and local governments and boosting the intelligence community's use of AI.
The House Intelligence Committee has advanced its fiscal year 2027 intelligence authorization legislation, which includes significant provisions aimed at improving cybersecurity posture at the state and local levels, as well as enhancing the intelligence community's (IC) adoption of artificial intelligence. A key component of the bill is the authorization of a pilot program designed to facilitate the sharing of cyber threat intelligence with state and local governments. This initiative stems from considerable frustration over past reductions in federal cyber assistance, particularly during the Trump administration, which shifted more cyber defense responsibilities to local entities.
Under the proposed pilot program, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) would select one state to receive regular, unclassified briefings. These briefings would cover "timely, specific, and actionable information regarding cyber threats" and would be provided by agencies including the ODNI, Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI. Following a year-long trial, the ODNI is tasked with reporting on the feasibility of expanding such a briefing program to a broader range of state and local governments.
Beyond the pilot program, the bill mandates the ODNI to develop a comprehensive strategy for information sharing with state and local jurisdictions. Furthermore, it requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent assessment of the current state of cyber threat intelligence sharing. This assessment will examine existing agency efforts, mechanisms for deconflicting these efforts, and the impact of security clearance requirements on improving information flow.
The legislation also addresses election security, with several amendments adopted by the committee. An amendment proposed by Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) would compel the intelligence community to publish an unclassified assessment detailing foreign intelligence threats to the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Additionally, an amendment from Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) seeks to partially withhold funding for the ODNI until overdue reports concerning the 2024 and 2026 elections are submitted to Congress.
In parallel, the bill champions the integration of artificial intelligence within the intelligence community. It proposes a substantial increase in funding to expand the access and utilization of advanced AI models for intelligence and cyber missions. The legislation also aims to codify and broaden the role of the Artificial Intelligence Security Center at the National Security Agency (NSA) and bolster information sharing related to AI-driven threats.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR) highlighted the bill's dual focus, stating, "This year’s bill balances strong transparency and accountability measures while equipping the IC with the resources needed to combat the ever-evolving threats from our adversaries around the world, with a particularly strong focus on the global AI race." The bill also orders an assessment by the Department of Energy's Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence on foreign cyber threats targeting critical energy infrastructure.
This legislative push reflects a growing recognition in Congress of the critical need for robust cyber defenses at all levels of government and the transformative potential of AI in national security. The trend of incorporating intelligence authorization provisions into the broader National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) suggests these measures could see further legislative momentum as the year progresses.