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119-hr-7439119th Congress

Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

Introduced

Summary

Establishes a national legal standard that limits when federal officers can use deadly force. It would set clear triggers for deadly force, ban its use in several routine scenarios, and require warnings and training.

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  • Federal law enforcement officers would be allowed to use deadly force only when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury. The bill would bar deadly force solely to stop a fleeing suspect or solely to disable a moving vehicle.
  • People who only threaten themselves or only threaten property would be protected from deadly force under this standard.
  • Shooting at a moving vehicle would generally be forbidden unless someone in the vehicle is using deadly force by other means or the driver is actively driving to cause death or serious injury and no other reasonable defense exists.
  • The bill would require a verbal warning before using deadly force when practicable and would ban warning shots except inside a federal prison.
  • The Attorney General would be required to work with other federal agency leaders to develop and provide training on situations where deadly force is prohibited.
  • The law would define covered officers to include both officers listed in 18 U.S.C. 115 and immigration officers as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New limits on federal deadly force

This bill would set a national rule that federal officers could use deadly force only when they reasonably believe it is needed to stop imminent death or serious injury to themselves or another person. It would say deadly force is not justified just to stop a fleeing suspect, to disable a moving vehicle, or against someone who only threatens themselves or property. Shooting at a moving vehicle would be allowed only if someone in the vehicle is threatening others with deadly force by means other than the vehicle, or if the vehicle is being used in a way that threatens death or serious injury and no other objectively reasonable defense exists, including moving out of the vehicle's path. Before using deadly force, officers would have to give a verbal warning when practicable and when the warning would not increase imminent danger. The bill would ban warning shots except when they occur inside a Federal prison. It would define which officers this section covers by referencing 18 U.S.C. 115 and the INA definition of immigration officers.

Training on prohibited deadly-force tactics

The bill would require the Attorney General, working with heads of other federal agencies that employ law enforcement officers, to develop and provide training on methods and tactics for situations where deadly force is prohibited under this section. The training would cover the situations the bill limits, including firing at moving vehicles and use-of-force alternatives. The text does not specify funding or a schedule for the training.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

NY • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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