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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7439

House Bill Would Limit Federal Officers' Use of Deadly Force to Imminent Threats Only

To provide that Federal law enforcement officers may only use deadly force when necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person, and for other purposes.

Also known as: Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026

about 1 month ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill creates a national standard for when federal agents and immigration officers can use deadly force. It says officers should only use such force if they truly believe it is the only way to stop someone from being killed or seriously hurt right then and there.
  • Officers would be banned from using deadly force just to stop someone from running away or to disable a moving car. It also stops them from using deadly force against people who are only a threat to themselves or to property, rather than other people.
  • The rules specifically limit shooting at moving vehicles. An officer could only do this if someone in the car is using a weapon or if the driver is trying to hit people and the officer has no other way to get out of the path of the vehicle.
  • Before using deadly force, officers would be required to give a verbal warning whenever possible. They would also be banned from firing 'warning shots' into the air or ground, except when working inside federal prisons.
  • The government would provide new training for these officers. This training would focus on how to handle dangerous situations using different methods and tactics that do not involve deadly force.
Criminal JusticeImmigrationCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 9, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

To provide that Federal law enforcement officers may only use deadly force when necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person, and for other purposes.

Bill NumberHR 7439
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.