Sponsors (37)
The bill creates a new national award and formal commission to honor law‑enforcement and first responders killed in the line of duty (including immediate named awards), trading off risks that contested wrongdoing findings, unpaid commission positions, and Presidential power to dissolve the commission could limit who is recognized and the program's continuity and inclusiveness.
Law enforcement officers and first responders (law-enforcement, firefighters-ems) will be covered by a newly authorized national recognition program that establishes a formal process to design, determine eligibility for, and adjudicate awards for those killed in the line of duty.
Three specific fallen deputies (law-enforcement) and their families will receive immediate, statutory recognition through named initial awards.
Families of fallen public safety personnel (law-enforcement, firefighters-ems) gain formal national recognition that affirms the sacrifice of officers killed in the line of duty.
Families and officers (law-enforcement, families) may be denied recognition if an "official finding of wrongdoing" exists or is contested, creating risk of inconsistent or disputed exclusions across agencies.
Law enforcement, first responders, and local governments could face disruption in honors and unresolved appeals if the President dissolves the Commission, because there is no fixed sunset or safeguard against premature termination.
Potential commission members (federal-employees and other experts) and the program may suffer from limited diversity or delayed establishment because commission positions are unpaid, favoring those who can volunteer time.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Presidential Commission and a new 'Medal of Sacrifice' to honor law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty and prescribes eligibility and medal design.
Creates a Presidential Commission to design, promote, and award a new "Medal of Sacrifice" for law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty, sets eligibility rules and adjudication authority, prescribes the medal's physical design and ribbon variants, and requires the President to issue the medal. The Commission will be 12 members (representatives of law enforcement, first responders, and related organizations), appointed within 150 days, serving five-year terms (renewable once), unpaid, and will dissolve when the President determines its duties are complete.
Official title: Medal of Sacrifice Act
Introduced May 19, 2025 by Brian Jeffrey Mast · Last progress May 28, 2026