H.R. 7439

119 HR 7439 IH: Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-02-09
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 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 ).