Special Operator Protection Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Ted Budd
Introduced
Summary
Criminal ban on doxing U.S. special operations personnel and their families. This bill would create a new federal offense that makes it illegal to publish certain personal information about covered special operations personnel or their immediate family when done to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate violence.
Show full summary
- Special operations personnel and immediate family members would be protected. The bill defines covered people to include members of special operations forces, Defense Department personnel designated by the Secretary of Defense for sensitive activities, and federal law enforcement working with special operations. It also adopts an existing definition of immediate family.
- It defines the restricted personal information that is off-limits. That list includes a name linked to employment, face images or likeness, home images, personal identifiers like birth date or Social Security number, home contact details, personal email or fax, and biometric data.
- People who knowingly publish this restricted information with the required intent would face criminal penalties. Penalties include fines and up to 5 years in prison, with enhanced sentences up to any term of years or life if death or serious bodily injury results.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Ban on publishing special operators' info
If enacted, the bill would make it a federal crime to publicly post certain personal data about special operations personnel. Covered people would include members of the special operations forces, Defense Department employees who do sensitive activities, and federal officers working with special operations. Restricted data would include a name linked to place of employment; photos of a face or home linked to work; home address and phone numbers; birth date; Social Security number; personal email or home fax; and biometric data. The bill would criminalize posting that information when done to threaten, intimidate, or incite violence, or with intent and knowledge it will be used to facilitate violence. Violators would face a fine and up to 5 years in prison. If death or serious bodily injury results, penalties would include a fine and any term of years or life imprisonment. The rule would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ted Budd
NC • R
Cosponsors
Jeanne Shaheen
NH • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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