American Security Robotics Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8189
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-20T23:35:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The American Security Robotics Act of 2026 (H.R. 8189) aims to protect U.S. national security by banning executive branch agencies from buying, using, or funding certain unmanned ground vehicle systems (UGVS) made by entities from adversarial foreign nations.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Covered nation: Countries listed in U.S. law (10 U.S.C. § 4872(f)), such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
- Covered foreign entity: Companies based in a covered nation, controlled by its government, or affiliated with such entities.
- Covered UGVS: Ground-based robots or vehicles (e.g., remote surveillance vehicles, autonomous patrols, mobile robots, humanoid robots) made or assembled by covered foreign entities, including their payloads and control systems.
- Executive agency: Federal departments and agencies under the President (per 41 U.S.C. § 133).
- Procurement Ban: Executive agencies cannot buy covered UGVS (immediate effect, with exemptions).
- Operation Ban: Agencies cannot operate covered UGVS starting one year after enactment; applies to contracted services.
- Funding Ban: No federal funds (via contracts, grants, etc.) can be used for covered UGVS procurement or operation after one year.
- Exemptions (for DHS, DoD, State Department, and DOJ only):
- Must serve U.S. national interest.
- Limited to research, testing, cybersecurity development, counter-terrorism, or similar activities; or systems modified to block data transfer to foreign entities and deemed low cybersecurity risk.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new prohibitions on procurement, operation, and funding of covered UGVS by executive agencies—previously unregulated.
- Creates a one-year phase-out for existing systems and ties exemptions to specific national security determinations by agency heads.
- No direct amendments to prior laws, but builds on definitions from defense statutes (e.g., 10 U.S.C. § 4872(f)).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Forces shift to U.S. or allied-made UGVS; DHS, DoD, etc., may face procurement delays or higher costs during transition; exemptions allow limited continued use for critical missions.
- Citizens: Indirect benefits via reduced cybersecurity risks from foreign tech; no direct effects on public use.
- International Relations: May heighten tensions with covered nations by restricting their tech exports; promotes U.S. domestic robotics industry.
Main Stakeholders
- Executive Agencies: Especially DHS, DoD, State, and DOJ (most affected by bans and exemptions).
- U.S. Robotics/Defense Industry: Gains competitive edge from bans on foreign rivals.
- Covered Foreign Entities: Loses U.S. government market access.
- Federal Contractors: Must comply or lose funding for prohibited systems.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on Congress's spending power to control federal funds; exemptions require agency heads to assess "national interest" and risks, potentially inviting legal challenges over determinations.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Article I authority over appropriations; no apparent free speech or due process issues.
- Political: Emphasizes national security against foreign influence (e.g., data risks from adversarial nations); could set precedent for broader tech restrictions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- American Security Robotics Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (6 pages)