FITNESS Act
Sponsored By: Senator Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced
Summary
The Fitness Act would create national standards for hiring, training, certification, and accountability of Federal law enforcement officers. It would bar expedited training shortcuts, reestablish a central misconduct database, and tighten disqualifications to block extremist affiliations and serious misconduct.
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- Federal law enforcement officers: Would require strict eligibility and ongoing suitability checks, continuous fitness and drug testing, and prohibit deployment of any officer who has not completed required training. Basic immigration enforcement training would be 584 hours and some required exams would require at least an 80% score.
- Federal agencies and oversight: Would require each agency to obtain Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation from CALEA within 1 year and keep reaccreditation every 4 years. It would reestablish the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database with quarterly reporting, grant limited access for hiring and discipline, and impose regular inspector general reviews.
- Immigration enforcement and staffing: Would freeze immigration enforcement officer numbers at the baseline and bar hiring bonuses and cross‑agency augmentations until the Department of Homeland Security certifies that officers meet the Act's hiring and training standards.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
National misconduct database and checks
If enacted, the Attorney General would reestablish a national database called NLEAD within 30 days. NLEAD would store terminations under investigation, sustained misconduct findings, license revocations, covered civil actions, and related convictions. State, local, and Tribal agencies would be allowed to query applicant records before hiring. Individuals involved in qualifying incidents, or their families, would be able to request records. The Attorney General would publish an aggregated, anonymized annual NLEAD report and review agency compliance.
Stronger use-of-force reporting rules
If enacted, any federal officer who uses or observes force would have to report it to their supervisor before ending the shift. Agencies would document incidents, ensure review by uninvolved supervisors, train staff, and submit data monthly to the FBI Use-of-Force Database. Initial data covering January 1, 2025 through enactment would be due within 30 days after enactment. False or deliberately omitted reports meant to mislead could lead to discipline up to termination. The Justice Department office for professional responsibility would review database records and publish an annual report to Congress.
Training, fitness, and exam rules
If enacted, no one could exercise federal law enforcement authority until they complete required training. That includes the Uniformed Police Training Program and a Use of Force Training Program. Immigration enforcement officers would also need a 584-hour basic immigration training and a 5-week Spanish course (syllabus in effect July 2025). Trainees would have to score at least 80% on each closed-book written and performance exam. Agencies could not waive, shorten, or delay training for staffing or emergency reasons. Officers would face random drug testing, biannual fitness tests for at-large duties, background reinvestigations at least every two years, and annual in-service training.
No new funding for implementation
If enacted, the bill would not authorize any new money to carry out the Act. Agencies would need to use existing funds or seek separate appropriations from Congress. This could limit how quickly agencies implement training, database, and oversight changes.
New federal officer hiring standards
If enacted, federal law enforcement applicants would need to be U.S. citizens and age 21 to 36 at appointment. Applicants would need a bachelor’s degree or a high school diploma/GED plus four years of experience. They would have to pass a pre-employment medical exam (ACOEM standards), a fitness test, a drug screen, and a Single Scope Background Investigation. The bill would bar appointment for listed convictions, past terminations for misconduct, or participation in specified extremist groups, and pardons or expungements would not restore eligibility. Agencies would ask current officers to disclose prohibited participation within 30 days and could remove officers under standard removal procedures.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 8/7/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov