Sponsors (7)
The bill raises penalties to strengthen protection and prosecution of assaults on federal officers—potentially improving deterrence and enforcement—at the cost of higher incarceration expenses and significant risks of overbroad application that could infringe on civil liberties, especially for protesters and bystanders.
Federal law enforcement officers: the bill increases penalties for attacks that use a vehicle or involve assaults in federal vehicles (up to 20 years), creating stronger legal protection for officers.
Law enforcement and the public: harsher penalties and clearer offenses may deter violent attacks on federal officers and improve officer safety during official duties.
DOJ and DHS prosecutions: the statute provides a clearer legal basis to pursue severe assaults involving vehicles, which can improve prosecution outcomes and accountability.
General public: the expanded felony penalties risk overcriminalization if applied broadly, potentially turning ambiguous or non‑violent conduct near officers into severe crimes.
Protesters and bystanders: the law could be applied in crowd-control or protest situations in ways that disproportionately punish protesters or uninvolved bystanders, raising civil liberties concerns.
Taxpayers: substantially longer potential sentences (up to 20 years) will increase incarceration costs and related expenses for the justice system.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates enhanced federal penalties (fines and/or up to 20 years imprisonment) for using a vehicle to assault or for assaulting while in a federal law enforcement vehicle DHS/DOJ officers performing official duties.
Creates new, higher federal penalties for people who use a vehicle to assault or otherwise forcibly interfere with certain federal law enforcement officers, and for people who assault those officers while the officer is in a federal law enforcement vehicle. The enhanced penalty in both cases is a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years, and the change modifies the criminal statute that covers assault on federal officers. The changes apply specifically to federal law enforcement officers employed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice while they are performing official duties. The bill does not create new funding or new programs; it only increases the maximum punishment for these specified acts.
Introduced March 19, 2026 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress March 19, 2026