DHS Restrictions on Contracting, Funding Pass

Congress has passed an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (HR-5441) that continues a ban on contracting-out of immigration information officers, contact representatives, or investigative assistants in the Citizenship and Immigration Services bureau. The bill also restricts the amount of money that would be available for the new DHS personnel system, MaxHR, which has been restricted by court rulings that the administration has decided not to appeal. The bill provides $25 million for implementing MaxHR and instructs the department to submit an expenditure plan within 90 days. The White House had requested $42 million and opposed any restrictions on contracting or on spending for MaxHR.