Sponsors (2)
The bill shifts control over federal deputization to state, tribal, territorial, and D.C. chief executives—strengthening local authority and limiting DOJ's enforcement scope on drug matters—while increasing the risk that federal assistance and multi-jurisdictional enforcement could be delayed or reduced during fast-moving incidents or where local leaders are unwilling or unable to request help.
State, tribal, territorial, and D.C. chief executives gain clear authority to approve or reject federal deputization/designation of additional officers in their jurisdictions, increasing local control over federal law-enforcement presence.
The Department of Justice is limited to assigning enforcement personnel under the Controlled Substances Act only to drug-related investigative functions, narrowing federal enforcement scope and reducing potential for mission creep.
The risk of federal intervention at local protests is reduced, preserving local decisionmaking and lowering the chance that additional federal personnel will escalate tensions during demonstrations.
If chief executives do not or cannot request deputization quickly (for political or incapacitating reasons), local, tribal, and federal responders may receive slower or reduced federal support during large, fast-moving incidents, degrading emergency response and public safety.
Public safety in jurisdictions with uncooperative or incapacitated chief executives (for example during emergencies) could be strained because federal agencies cannot act without formal requests, leaving gaps in urgent law-enforcement or emergency capabilities.
Victims of multi-jurisdictional drug crimes may get weaker federal investigative responses because DOJ personnel are constrained to narrowly defined drug-investigation duties, potentially reducing the effectiveness of cross-jurisdiction investigations and prosecutions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires a request from the State/tribal/territorial/D.C. chief executive before federal deputization/designation of local officers and narrows one federal statute to drug investigation duties.
Official title: 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.
Introduced April 22, 2026 by Ted Lieu · Last progress April 22, 2026
Limits when federal authorities can deputize or designate state, local, tribal, territorial, or D.C. officers to exercise federal law enforcement powers by requiring a formal request from the relevant chief executive. Also narrows one federal statute so certain federal enforcement personnel duties are limited to drug investigations and makes the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to designate personnel to protect federal property during protests subject to the same request requirement, with a narrow exception for employees transferred from the Federal Protective Service.