FITNESS Act

Key Points

• The bill sets strict minimum standards to become a federal law enforcement officer. Applicants must be 21 to 36 years old, be U.S. citizens, hold a bachelor's degree or a GED plus 4 years of experience, and pass medical exams, physical fitness tests, drug screening, and a background investigation before appointment.
• Agencies must review an applicant's online presence, and people who joined hate groups, supported overthrowing the government, or were fired from state or local police are barred. Certain conduct-based bars apply even if the person received a pardon, expungement, or certificate of rehabilitation.
• Officers must complete full police and use-of-force training before they can be armed, make arrests, or conduct searches. Agencies cannot waive, shorten, or fast-track this training due to staffing shortages, emergencies, or surge needs.
• The Attorney General must reestablish a national misconduct database (NLEAD) tracking excessive force, dishonesty, and civil rights violations, and agencies must check it before hiring. Officers must report every use-of-force incident to a supervisor before their shift ends.
• The bill freezes ICE immigration enforcement officer hiring and caps their pay until DHS certifies all existing ICE officers meet the new standards. State attorneys general could sue federal agencies that show a pattern of violations that risk public safety or constitutional rights.
• Officers hired since January 20, 2025 who do not meet the new rules must be pulled off duty, and could be permanently removed if they fail to comply within set deadlines. No new money is provided to carry out the law.