HALO Act of 2026

This bill sets design, safety, and testing rules for Department of Defense weapon systems that use artificial intelligence to select or engage targets on their own or with partial human input. It requires that a named commander be accountable for and control each use of force, that systems stop engagements they cannot complete within set limits, and that most such systems pass senior-level reviews before development and before fielding. It bars Defense Department AI from certain uses, including inferring a person's race or religion, tracking people's locations in the United States without a warrant or court order, and removing humans from nuclear weapons decisions. It also adds whistleblower procedures, requires regular reports to Congress, exempts some systems such as mines and unarmed platforms, and requires the Defense Department to stop using current systems it cannot attest are compliant.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Adam B. Schiff Democrat sponsor
• 0 cosponsors