Sponsors (7)
Introduced March 19, 2026 by W. Greg Steube · Last progress March 19, 2026
The bill raises penalties and strengthens protections for federal officers to improve safety and deter attacks, but does so at the cost of broader federal criminalization, higher incarceration/taxpayer expenses, and potential impacts on protesters' civil liberties.
Federal law-enforcement officers would have stronger legal protection against vehicle attacks and assaults, which could deter attacks and improve officer safety during federal operations.
Stronger penalties for assaults on officers could increase public safety by discouraging violent incidents during federal operations and reducing harm to officers and nearby civilians.
The bill increases criminal penalties (up to 20 years) for offenders, which will likely raise incarceration rates and long-term sentencing costs borne by taxpayers.
By applying enhanced penalties to actions committed "while engaged in official duties," the bill expands federal criminal jurisdiction and could increase prosecutions of civilians in protests or crowd-control settings, raising civil‑liberties and justice concerns.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates two new felony offenses in federal law that punish people who use a vehicle to assault, resist, intimidate, or otherwise interfere with certain federal law enforcement officers while those officers are performing official duties, and who assault or interfere with such officers while the officer is in a federal law-enforcement vehicle. Both new offenses apply specifically to officers of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice and carry penalties of a fine and/or up to 20 years in prison. The change amends 18 U.S.C. §111 and adjusts existing subsection lettering to accommodate the additions.