FAFO Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8843

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-06-15T19:57:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation amends federal law to expand the definition of domestic terrorism by including certain acts involving property damage, with the goal of addressing obstructions that affect law enforcement, first responders, or individuals seeking medical care.

Key Provisions

• The bill is titled the "Federal Accountability for Felony Obstruction Act" or "FAFO Act."
• It amends Section 2331(5)(A) of title 18, United States Code.
• The revised definition states that domestic terrorism involves criminal law violations that are dangerous to human life or likely to cause significant damage to property, and that obstruct or impede law enforcement officers, first responders in their duties, or persons seeking medical attention.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The prior definition focused solely on acts dangerous to human life.
• The amendment adds "likely to cause significant damage to property" as an alternative criterion.
• It incorporates an explicit obstruction element targeting interference with law enforcement, first responders, or medical access.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies, such as the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement, gain expanded authority to classify and investigate qualifying acts as domestic terrorism.
• Citizens may face heightened federal scrutiny or penalties for criminal acts involving property damage or obstruction in relevant contexts.
• No direct effects on international relations are outlined in the bill.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Law enforcement officers and first responders.
• Individuals involved in criminal violations meeting the new criteria.
• Federal prosecutors and the judiciary responsible for applying the updated definition.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• The change broadens the scope of domestic terrorism under federal statute, potentially increasing the range of prosecutable offenses.
• Application of the definition remains subject to existing constitutional protections and judicial interpretation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-15: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Federal Accountability for Felony Obstruction Act — issued 2026-05-15 — PDF (2 pages)