Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026

119 HR 7439 IH: Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026 U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7439 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 9, 2026 Ms. Meng introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide that Federal law enforcement officers may only use deadly force when necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026 . 2. Limitation on the use of deadly force by Federal law enforcement officers (a) In general A Federal law enforcement officer may only use deadly force when the officer has a reasonable belief that the use of such force is necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person. (b) Clarifications (1) In general The use of deadly force may not be considered necessary— (A) solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect; (B) solely to disable a moving vehicle; or (C) against a person whose actions are a threat solely to themself or to property. (2) Discharge at a moving vehicle The discharge of a firearm by a Federal law enforcement officer at a moving vehicle may not be considered necessary unless— (A) a person in the vehicle is threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by means other than the vehicle; or (B) the person operating the vehicle is doing so in a manner that threatens to cause death or serious physical injury to the officer or others, and no other objectively reasonable means of defense appear to exist, including moving out of the path of the vehicle. (c) Verbal warning Prior to using deadly force, a Federal law enforcement officer shall give a verbal warning to the individual on whom the officer intends to use such force, to the extent practicable, and only if giving such warning would not increase the imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person. (d) Prohibition on warning shots Except in a Federal prison, a Federal law enforcement officer may not discharge a firearm as a warning. (e) Training The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies that employ Federal law enforcement officers, shall develop and provide training to Federal law enforcement officers on methods and tactics to use in conducting law enforcement activities in situations, with respect to which, the use of deadly force is prohibited under this section. (f) Definition In this section, the term Federal law enforcement officer means— (1) a Federal law enforcement officer, as such term is defined in section 115 of title 18, United States Code; and (2) an immigration officer, as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 ).