To provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to transfer funds between accounts under the Department of Homeland Security during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

HR7844, introduced on March 5, 2026, by Rep. Peters (D-CA) and 11 cosponsors, is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been referred to the Committees on Homeland Security, the Judiciary, and Ways and Means. The bill aims to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with the authority to transfer unobligated funds between accounts within DHS during a lapse in appropriations. This mechanism is designed to prevent immediate operational disruptions during a government shutdown. The bill explicitly states that the Secretary of Homeland Security may transfer unobligated funds appropriated under Public Law 119-21 (the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act") to other DHS accounts. However, it prohibits transfers to the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Furthermore, any transferred funds cannot be used to appoint individuals to vacant positions. This bill does not authorize new spending or appropriate additional funds; it only permits the reallocation of existing unobligated funds within DHS during a specific contingency. Since this bill focuses on internal fund management within a government agency during a specific scenario (a lapse in appropriations) and does not involve new procurement, increased spending, or regulatory changes affecting private industry, there are no direct structural winners or losers among publicly traded companies. The bill's intent is to ensure continuity of government operations rather than to stimulate or restrict economic activity in any particular sector. The legislative path for HR7844 is long, as it has just been introduced and referred to multiple committees. There have been no further actions since its introduction on March 5, 2026. Given its early stage and the nature of its provisions, significant legislative hurdles remain before it could potentially become law.