PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 35 · Passed Senate amended · Apr 17, 2018
Hack the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2017 or the Hack DHS Act
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish, within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, a bug bounty pilot program to minimize vulnerabilities to DHS Internet-facing information technology.
A "bug bounty program" is a program under which an approved individual, organization, or company is temporarily authorized to identify and report vulnerabilities of Internet-facing information technology of DHS in exchange for compensation.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Under such program, DHS shall:
provide compensation for reports of previously unidentified security vulnerabilities within the websites, applications, and other DHS Internet-facing information technology that are accessible to the public;
award a competitive contract tomanage the pilot program and for executing the remediation of vulnerabilities identified bythe program;
designate mission-critical operations within DHS that should be excluded from the pilot program;
consult with the Department of Justice on how to protect from prosecution approved individuals or entities who comply with the requirements of the program;
develop an expeditious process for registration, background checks, and eligibility determinations for participation in the pilot program; and
engage interested persons about the structure of the program.
DHS must report to Congress on the program within 180 days of its completion.
People & committees
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] · D–NH
Legislative record
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 752.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-964.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 115-964.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text as passed Senate: CR S2224)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text as passed Senate: CR S2224)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2224)
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2223-2225)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 335.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-209.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-209.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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