GUARD Act of 2026

New rules for robots from certain countries

This bill would create a federal process to identify and regulate humanoid and four-legged robots and the software that controls them when they come from certain foreign companies. It would define which companies count as "covered foreign entities," including firms based in or controlled by a "country of concern," their affiliates, subsidiaries, joint ventures, and tech‑sharing or licensing partners. The bill would define covered robotics communications equipment to include robots with two or four articulated limbs that operate at a distance and external devices or software that control them. An appropriate national security agency would have 1 year after enactment to decide if such equipment or services pose an unacceptable risk. If the agency finds an unacceptable risk, the FCC would add the item to its existing covered list within 30 days and the agency must send an unclassified report (with a possible classified annex) to the specified congressional committees. If no decision is made in 1 year, the FCC would add all covered robotics items to that covered list. If the agency finds no unacceptable risk, it must report in 30 days and other national security agencies must complete reviews and report within 180 days. The section would not apply to countries not labeled a country of concern, including NATO allies and Major Non‑NATO Allies. The bill would tie the term "covered list" to the FCC list created by the 2019 Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.