Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4264
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-08-07T17:18:30Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 4264
Purpose
This legislation aims to limit the President's ability to deploy regular active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces within states or territories to respond to peaceful protests or demonstrations. It seeks to require involvement from state or territorial leaders before such deployments occur.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 252 of Title 10, United States Code, by adding a new subsection that prohibits deployment of regular active-duty Armed Forces to respond to peaceful protests or demonstrations unless requested by the governor or chief executive of the affected state or territory.
- Amends Section 253 of Title 10, United States Code, with an identical restriction for responses to interference with state and federal law involving peaceful protests or demonstrations.
- Applies these limits specifically to regular components of the Armed Forces on active duty, while preserving the existing general authorities in subsections (a) of both sections.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new consent requirements from state or territorial executives for domestic military deployments related to peaceful protests, which were not previously mandated under Sections 252 and 253.
- Creates an explicit exception for peaceful protests and demonstrations that overrides the broader presidential authorities outlined in the current text of these sections.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Restricts the executive branch's direct use of federal military forces for certain domestic situations, potentially requiring coordination with state officials and altering operational planning by the Department of Defense.
- On citizens: May affect how federal responses to public demonstrations are handled, emphasizing state-level involvement in decisions about military presence.
- On international relations: No direct provisions address foreign policy or international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The President and executive branch agencies responsible for domestic law enforcement and military deployment.
- Governors and chief executives of states and territories, who gain a required role in requesting military assistance.
- Members of the regular Armed Forces on active duty and the Department of Defense.
- Citizens participating in or affected by protests and demonstrations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- This bill modifies authorities under Title 10 that form part of the framework for federal responses to domestic unrest, potentially strengthening state-federal balance in military use.
- It raises questions about the scope of presidential powers in domestic affairs and the role of federalism in emergency situations.
- The legislation could influence future interpretations of laws governing military involvement in civilian matters, though it does not alter the Posse Comitatus Act or other related statutes directly.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-06-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Trump’s Abuse of Power Act — issued 2025-06-30 — PDF (3 pages)