HALO Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4697
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-22T22:48:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill establishes mandatory design, safety, testing, and oversight requirements for autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems that incorporate artificial intelligence for target selection or use-of-force decisions. It aims to ensure human accountability and control in lethal operations while prohibiting certain AI applications that could harm civil liberties or violate laws.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Definitions: Clarifies terms such as autonomous weapon system (systems that can select and engage targets without further human input after activation), semi-autonomous weapon system (limited to pre-selected targets by humans), unintended engagement, and references existing DoD ethical AI principles and responsible AI strategy.
- Design and Safety Requirements (Section 3): Mandates human responsibility through designated commanders with ultimate control; requires systems to incorporate engagement constraints, termination protocols, transparency features, auditable records, and safeguards against degraded communications; aligns development with ethical AI principles.
- Advanced Review and Approval (Section 4): Requires joint verification by senior DoD officials before formal development and fielding, covering human control, legal compliance, risk assessments, and system reliability; includes re-review for modified systems and exceptions for certain defensive or non-lethal systems.
- Testing and Evaluation (Sections 5–6): Assigns roles to the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer for testable requirements and red-team assessments; mandates rigorous verification, validation, operational testing, post-fielding monitoring, and quarterly cyber evaluations.
- Prohibited Uses (Section 7): Bans AI capabilities for profiling based on protected rights, inferring emotional states, determining protected characteristics, unauthorized location tracking, or removing humans from nuclear decision-making; applies to all DoD activities and shared systems with other agencies.
- Whistleblower Protections and Reporting (Sections 8–9): Updates protections for reporting AI-related concerns; requires semiannual reports on use cases, after-action incidents, compliance status, and infrastructure barriers.
- Exceptions and Effective Date (Sections 10–11): Excludes cyberspace capabilities, unarmed platforms, time-critical defenses, unguided munitions, and identification-only systems; takes effect 180 days after enactment with review of existing systems.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- Creates new statutory mandates for human oversight and chain-of-command accountability in AI-enabled weapon systems, extending beyond current DoD directives.
- Establishes pre-development and pre-fielding approval processes involving multiple undersecretaries and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
- Introduces specific prohibitions on AI uses involving personal data and civil liberties not previously codified for DoD systems.
- Requires ongoing monitoring, centralized incident repositories, and remediation plans for non-compliant fielded systems.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative and technical burdens on the Department of Defense, military departments, and oversight bodies through new review, testing, and reporting obligations.
- Citizens: Strengthens safeguards against AI misuse that could affect privacy or civil liberties, with protections extending to data shared with other federal agencies.
- International Relations: Reinforces compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict and international treaties, potentially influencing U.S. military cooperation and standards for allied forces.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Defense leadership, including the Secretary, Under Secretaries, military departments, and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer.
- Human operators, designated commanders, and personnel involved in AI system development, testing, and deployment.
- Appropriate congressional committees (Senate and House Armed Services, Intelligence, and Judiciary).
- Contractors and developers of AI-enabled weapon systems.
- Civilians and protected entities potentially impacted by military operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Emphasizes constitutional protections by prohibiting AI uses that profile based on protected rights or infer sensitive characteristics.
- Mandates legal reviews aligned with the Law of Armed Conflict, treaties, and federal law, with requirements for auditable records to support post-engagement accountability.
- Introduces mechanisms for anonymous reporting and corrective actions, enhancing oversight while maintaining compliance with existing whistleblower statutes.
- Balances military innovation with restrictions on fully autonomous lethal decisions, potentially shaping future policy debates on AI in warfare.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-06-08: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Human Authority in Lethal Operations Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-08 — PDF (37 pages)