H.R.1299 - EAGLES Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1299, the EAGLES Act of 2025, aims to reauthorize and expand the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) within the Department of Homeland Security. The bill focuses on preventing targeted violence, particularly in schools, through behavioral threat assessment. It authorizes appropriations of $10 million per year from 2026 to 2030 for NTAC to conduct research, training, and consultation activities.
Expected Effects
The EAGLES Act will likely lead to increased training and resources for schools and communities in identifying and managing potential threats. This could result in a reduction of targeted violence incidents, especially in school settings. The Act also promotes collaboration between various agencies and organizations to create comprehensive threat assessment protocols.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced school safety through targeted violence prevention programs.
- Improved early intervention for individuals exhibiting threatening behavior.
- Increased collaboration between law enforcement, mental health professionals, and school personnel.
- Development of evidence-based practices for threat assessment.
- Reduction in juvenile arrests in K-12 school communities.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased surveillance and data collection, raising privacy concerns.
- Risk of misapplication or bias in behavioral threat assessments.
- Possible over-reliance on threat assessment models without addressing underlying social issues.
- Financial burden on taxpayers to fund the expansion of NTAC.
- The Act does not address the root causes of violence, such as mental health issues or access to firearms.
Constitutional Alignment
The EAGLES Act primarily aligns with the government's responsibility to provide for the general Welfare and ensure domestic Tranquility, as stated in the Preamble of the US Constitution. The Act's focus on preventing violence and promoting public safety falls under these broad constitutional objectives. However, the implementation of threat assessment programs must be carefully balanced with individual rights, particularly those protected by the Fourth Amendment (protection against unreasonable searches and seizures) and the First Amendment (freedom of speech and expression).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).