II
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1263
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 2, 2025
Mr. Schumer (for himself, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Kim) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
A BILL
To establish the Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence in the Executive Office of the President, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Operational Security Act of 2025
.
Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence of Executive Office of the President
Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence
There is in the Executive Office of the President an Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence (in this section referred to as the Office
).
Director
In general
There shall be at the head of the Office a Director of the Office of Security Training and Counterintelligence (in this section referred to as the Director
) who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Initial appointment
The President shall make an initial appointment of the Director not later than the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Qualifications of the Director
The Director shall—
be a recognized security expert, including expertise in cybersecurity, physical security, or counterintelligence; and
be eligible to access classified information at the level of Top Secret
and be eligible to access sensitive compartmented information.
Detailees
In general
Subject to paragraph (3), the Office shall be staffed by career security and counterintelligence professionals detailed from Federal agencies.
From Office of Director of National Intelligence
Subject to paragraph (3), the Director of National Intelligence may detail to the Office any of the personnel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to assist in carrying out the functions of the Office under subsection (e).
Clearance
Any personnel detailed to the Office under this subsection shall possess a security clearance in accordance with applicable laws and regulations concerning the handling of classified information.
Functions
The primary functions of the Office are to provide, within the Executive Office of the President, advice on the following:
Security training
Training, education, and research activities to equip and prepare personnel of the Executive Office of the President through the development and management of on-line and in-person courses, curricula, conferences, and other products.
Counterintelligence and insider threat
Activities to identify, assess, deter, and mitigate foreign and insider threats to the Executive Office of the President, both directly and through collaborative engagement with other intelligence and law enforcement organizations.
Protection of classified information
Protection and preservation of classified information and other sensitive information, including with regard to the use by personnel of the Executive Office of the President of unclassified commercially available messaging applications, as well as preservation of such information through collaborative engagement with the National Archives and Records Administration.
Advisory Board
Establishment
In general
There is hereby established an advisory board to advise the President, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of the Office, and such other personnel of the Executive Office of the President as the Board considers appropriate on best practices in security training, counterintelligence and insider threats, and protection of classified information.
Designation
The advisory board established by subparagraph (A) shall be known as the Security Training and Counterintelligence Advisory Board
(in this section referred to as the Board
).
Membership
Composition
Subject to subparagraph (B), the Board shall be composed of 4 members, appointed as follows:
One member appointed by the Democratic leader of the Senate.
One member appointed by the Republican leader of the Senate.
One member appointed by the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives.
One member appointed by the Republican leader of the House of Representatives.
Criteria
The members appointed under subparagraph (A) shall meet the following criteria:
Each member shall be a recognized expert in security, including expertise in cybersecurity, physical security, or counterintelligence.
Each member shall be eligible to access classified information at the level of Top Secret
and be eligible to access sensitive compartmented information.
Terms
In general
Each member appointed to the Board, including the Chairperson selected under paragraph (3), shall be appointed or elected, as applicable, for a 2-year term and members of the Board may be reappointed for additional terms of service as members of the Board. Members may continue to serve until they are either reappointed or replaced.
Annual reports
The Board shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), in writing, an annual report which shall set forth the recommendations of the Board for improving security training, counterintelligence and insider threat awareness, and the protection of classified information and other sensitive information used by personnel of the Executive Office of the President.
Chairperson
In general
During the first meeting of the Board, the members of the Board shall elect a Chairperson of the Board.
Limitation
In addition to meeting the criteria under paragraph (2)(B), the Chairperson may not be an employee, or former employee, of the Executive Office of the President.