Military in Law Enforcement Accountability Act

This proposal narrows when the military can help with local police work. It says the Defense Department can only step in during big emergencies that overwhelm civilian law enforcement—like a major natural disaster, a serious public health emergency, a humanitarian crisis, a major attack on critical infrastructure, a nuclear or other direct military attack, or a domestic terrorist incident. In any of those cases, the President must first send Congress a written explanation of why local authorities are overwhelmed before the military can help .

Any military support to civilian law enforcement would be short-term. It can last up to 14 days. If more time is needed, Congress must approve it through a special vote to extend the support beyond those two weeks .

• Who is affected: Local communities, police, and the U.S. military when responding to major emergencies .
• What changes: Military help to civilian law enforcement is limited to defined emergencies and requires a written justification; help beyond 14 days needs Congress to agree .
• When it applies: During the listed emergency situations that overwhelm civilian law enforcement capacity .