This bill, titled the "DHS Use of Force Oversight Act," amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to mandate a comprehensive, department-wide policy governing the use of force by law enforcement officers and agents within the Department of Homeland Security. The policy requires officers to employ only objectively reasonable force, attempt verbal warnings when feasible, and utilize tactics that prioritize safety while minimizing injury and property damage. Crucially, it prohibits the use of chokeholds and carotid restraints to control non-compliant individuals.

The new policy emphasizes that deescalation is the preferred approach and mandates initial and recurrent training for all officers in a full range of use of force tactics, including deescalation techniques. Furthermore, each Department component must designate a subject matter expert to ensure compliance and establish a use of force review council. These councils will conduct internal analyses of incidents to inform training, improve policies, and identify trends and lessons learned across the Department.

To ensure transparency and accountability, the bill requires the Secretary to publish semi-annual reports on the Department's website detailing all significant use of force incidents. These reports must include data on incidents resulting in injury or death, involving deadly force, less-than-lethal devices, kinetic impact tactics, or disabling fire against vehicles. The data must be disaggregated by component, include specific circumstances, and indicate whether injury or death occurred. Additionally, for incidents leading to hospitalization or death, the Secretary must brief Congressional committees and inform the public within 24 hours, ensuring individual privacy is protected, while the Department's Inspector General continuously reviews compliance with these new policies.