H.R. 7778 would create new criminal penalties for individuals, organizations, or businesses that use the official seal of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a manner that conveys the agency’s approval. Criminal fines are recorded as revenues, deposited in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Crime Victims Fund, and later spent without further appropriation action.
Under current law, several federal entities, including the Department of Treasury, the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Marine Corps, have similar protections for their respective seals. Based on information from DOJ regarding criminal penalties charged for the fraudulent use of these agencies’ seals, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 7778 would increase revenues and direct spending by less than $500,000 over the 2023-2032 period, resulting in an insignificant effect on the deficit over the same period.
Based on conversations with DHS, CBO does not anticipate that implementing H.R. 7778 would result in any additional administrative costs.
H.R. 7778 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
