Prevent the Misuse of Federal Law Enforcement Act

119 HR 8451 IH: Prevent the Misuse of Federal Law Enforcement Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-04-22 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8451 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 22, 2026 Mr. Lieu (for himself and Ms. Dexter ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce , and Transportation and Infrastructure , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To limit the extent to which certain Federal law enforcement agencies may be permitted to conduct law enforcement functions in a jurisdiction without the approval of such jurisdiction, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Prevent the Misuse of Federal Law Enforcement Act . 2. Law enforcement authority (a) Powers of enforcement personnel Section 508(a)(5) of the Controlled Substances Act is amended to read as follows: (5) perform such law enforcement duties as the Attorney General may designate as necessary to enforce the controlled substances laws of the United States, which shall not include any law enforcement duty that does not relate to, arise from, or supplement investigations of matters concerning drugs. . (b) U.S. Marshals Service powers and duties Section 566(c) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the period at the end the following: The United States Marshals Service may not deputize a law enforcement officer of a State (or any unit of local government within a State), Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia, unless pursuant to a request by the chief executive of the appropriate State, Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia. The United States Marshals Service may not deputize any other law enforcement officer of the Federal Government, unless pursuant to a request by the chief executive of the appropriate State, Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia. . (c) Law enforcement authority of Secretary of Homeland Security Section 1315(b) of title 40, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking The Secretary and inserting Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (3) Protests The Secretary may not designate additional employees of the Department of Homeland Security as officers and agents for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the Federal Government, or persons on the property, in any area in which protest activity is occurring, unless pursuant to a request by the chief executive of the appropriate State, Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia. This paragraph shall not apply to the designation of employees transferred to the Department of Homeland Security from the Office of the Federal Protective Service of the General Services Administration pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. .