Human Authority over Autonomous Weapons Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would require the Defense Department to ensure _human command responsibility_ for any use of force involving autonomous or artificial intelligence-enabled weapon systems. It would mandate human oversight for lethal decisions and a five-year rule requiring non‑AI target verification for such uses of force.
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- Military commanders and operators would be formally identified and held responsible for authorizing, supervising, and terminating any use of an autonomous or AI-enabled weapon system. They would need to provide human oversight, approval, or be in the loop for intentionally lethal actions.
- The Department of Defense would have to establish procedures to implement these responsibilities and follow them in addition to existing DoD Directive 3000.09.
- The requirement would not apply to United States missile defense systems or other systems designed to intercept or engage missiles and munitions when those weapons are used against the United States or its Armed Forces.
- The Secretary of Defense would have to report to the armed services committees within one year on the procedures put in place and on how often those procedures prevented or delayed uses of force.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Human oversight for military AI weapons
If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary of Defense to make any use of force by autonomous or AI-enabled weapon systems subject to human command responsibility. The Secretary would have to identify the human commander or operator who authorizes, supervises, and can terminate each use of force. The bill would require human oversight or a human-in-the-loop for any decision to use such a system for an intentionally lethal purpose. For five years after the date of enactment, commanders using these systems would have to verify targets with a second source that is not only generated by artificial intelligence. The rule would not apply to U.S. missile defense or other interceptor systems defending the United States or U.S. forces. The Secretary would have to send a report to the Armed Services Committees within one year describing the procedures and whether the rules prevented or delayed uses of force.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]
MI • R
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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