Department of Homeland Security Vehicular Terrorism Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2025
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Would require the Department of Homeland Security to produce a classified report — with a publicly available summary — on emerging vehicular terrorism threats, high-risk locations, technology countermeasures, and coordination with law enforcement and the private sector, within 180 days of enactment.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, working with the Transportation Security Administration and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to submit a classified report to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The report must cover the current and evolving vehicular terrorism threat landscape — including risks posed by autonomous vehicles, connected cars, and ride-sharing platforms — and review higher-risk locations such as airports, seaports, government facilities, and crowded public spaces like concert venues and holiday markets. It must also assess DHS coordination with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, engagement with private-sector stakeholders, and recommend technologies such as vehicle immobilization systems and AI-based threat-detection software.
The report would be submitted in classified form but may include an unclassified executive summary that DHS must publish on its website. Within 30 days of submitting the report, DHS must also brief the relevant congressional committees on its findings and recommendations. The bill does not itself fund any countermeasures or require any operational changes.
Key provisions
- 1Would require DHS, coordinating with TSA and CISA, to submit a classified report on vehicular terrorism threats and countermeasures within 180 days of enactment.
- 2Report must assess current and emerging threats, including risks from autonomous vehicles, ADAS-equipped vehicles, ride-sharing platforms, and AI-enabled automotive technologies.
- 3Report must review higher-risk locations such as airports, seaports, government facilities, healthcare facilities, and high-density public gathering spaces like parades and concerts.
- 4Report must include recommendations for deploying technologies such as vehicle immobilization systems, predictive analytics, and cybersecurity tools to detect and deter vehicular attacks.
- 5Unclassified executive summary of the report must be published on a publicly accessible DHS website.
- 6Would require DHS to brief the appropriate congressional committees on the report's findings and recommendations within 30 days of submitting the report.
Who would be affected
The Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would be directed to produce and deliver the report and briefing. State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and private-sector partners — including vehicle rental companies, ride-sharing platforms, and automotive manufacturers — are stakeholders whose coordination efforts the report must assess.
Why it matters
If enacted, the bill would require the federal government to formally document its vehicular terrorism strategy and make recommendations public. Communities, infrastructure operators, and law enforcement agencies across the country could benefit from any publicly released guidance, and Congress would receive a classified assessment of gaps and technology needs — potentially shaping future legislation or agency budgets.
What would change
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- DHS report on vehicular terrorism threats and countermeasures due
- Congressional briefing on report findings and recommendations due
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1608 would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
H.R. 1608 would require the Department of Homeland Security to produce a report and congressional briefing on vehicular terrorism threats, covering current and emerging threats, high-risk locations, and research and development recommendations. CBO estimates the cost of implementing the bill at less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds (i.e., Congress would need to provide the money through the annual appropriations process) and was not estimated beyond 2030. The bill would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues, would not increase on-budget deficits in any future decade, and contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.
How implementation would work
DHS would coordinate internally with TSA and CISA to compile the report within 180 days of enactment. The report must cover threat analysis, location vulnerability reviews, agency coordination efforts, private-sector engagement, technology recommendations, and privacy safeguards. DHS would submit it in classified form to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate committees on Commerce and on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. An unclassified executive summary, if included, must be posted publicly on the DHS website. A congressional briefing follows within 30 days of the report's submission.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a report to Congress on the department's efforts to prevent, deter, and respond to vehicular terrorism (i.e., an action that utilizes automotive transportation to commit terrorism). DHS must submit the report in coordination with the Transportation Security Administration and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Among other things, the report on vehicular terrorism must include
- an assessment of the current and emerging threats;
- a review of higher-risk locations and events that may be vulnerable, including critical infrastructure sites (e.g., airports and government facilities);
- a description of DHS’s coordination efforts with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies related to prevention; and
- recommendations for the research, development, and deployment of technologies to detect, deter, and mitigate vehicular terrorism.
DHS must submit a classified report to Congress, but may include an unclassified executive summary. DHS must publish the executive summary on the department's website.
In addition, DHS must brief Congress on the report's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Legislative subjects
Aviation and airports; Congressional oversight; Crime prevention; Government buildings, facilities, and property; Health facilities and institutions; Industrial facilities; Motor vehicles; Navigation, waterways, harbors; Public transit; Public-private cooperation; State and local government operations; Terrorism; Transportation and Public Works
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-222