Congressman Pat Harrigan Leads House Effort to Protect Identities of U.S. Special Operations Forces

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced the Special Operator Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to protect the identities of U.S. Special Operations Forces, federal law enforcement officers attached to SOF, and other Department of Defense personnel conducting highly sensitive military missions. Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09) is leading the House effort alongside Harrigan.

The legislation comes in direct response to recent U.S. Special Operations missions in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, after which individuals attempted to publicly identify and expose the operators involved. Those efforts created immediate and long-term security risks for the servicemembers who carried out the mission and for their families back home, underscoring a dangerous gap in existing law that leaves Special Operators vulnerable once missions become public.

"I served as a Special Operations servicemember, and I don't care what your politics are, or whether you agreed with the Venezuela operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro or not. When someone puts the name or image of a Special Operator out in public, that follows them home. It follows their family. It creates real risk long after the mission is over. I've lived that reality, and I've seen what exposure like that can do. That's why I'm proud to co-lead the Special Operator Protection Act in the House. It closes a real hole in the law and makes sure our Special Operations Forces aren't left exposed after carrying out some of the most dangerous missions this country asks anyone to do," said Congressman Harrigan.

The Special Operator Protection Act establishes criminal penalties for doxing Special Operations Forces and others involved in sensitive Department of Defense missions, including prohibitions on the public release of names, images, home addresses, contact information, and biometric data. The bill also creates enhanced penalties when such exposure results in serious bodily injury or death.

Congressman Harrigan is calling on his colleagues in the House to join as cosponsors and move this legislation quickly through committee and to the House floor.