NEWS: Schiff Introduces Comprehensive Legislation to Enact Commonsense Guardrails for Defense Department’s Use of AI

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Schiff introduced new legislation to codify commonsense and necessary guardrails to protect against the risks of, and create accountability for, autonomous and semi-autonomous lethal strikes and domestic mass surveillance that use artificial intelligence ahead of consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation is the result of extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, defense experts, and international humanitarian organizations.

The Human Authority in Lethal Operations (HALO) Act of 2026 would codify key safety requirements into statute, including mandating a clear chain of command with a designated human commander responsible for exercising ultimate discretion regarding use of force with autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems, instituting a clear review structure before the development and fielding of a covered weapon system, and establishing critical, ongoing testing and evaluation requirements.

"The past few months have shown us that there is an urgent need for commonsense guardrails to ensure the Defense Department's use of AI is in line with Americans' national security and privacy priorities," said Senator Adam Schiff. "There are good reasons to use AI technology to advance our national security, however - just as with any tool, we cannot depend on technology alone to guide to us, particularly when the risks of harm can be fatal. My legislation would protect Americans from unlawful domestic surveillance, ensure that humans in the chain of command exercise responsibility for the use of any lethal technology, and maintain strong ethical protections in the deployment of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons."

Specifically, Schiff's HALO Act would:

• Establish and expand existing core Defense Department safety and ethical requirements, including mandating a clear chain of command where a designated commander maintains ultimate discretion over the use of force through any autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems that utilize AI capabilities; and Require that the Department maintain detailed records of decision logic and target selection for post-engagement review.

• Ensure a full review structure before development and fielding of a lethal autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon system, and an updated review if AI capabilities within covered systems are materially modified.

• Prohibit uses of AI drawn from the Defense Department's National Security Memorandum (NSM) on AI, such as using AI to profile or monitor individuals based solely on their exercise of constitutional rights, removing a human from the decision-making chain for initiating or terminating nuclear weapons employment, and purchasing personal data from third-parties if the acquisition would violate the Act. The bill also extends these prohibitions to DoD logistics, intel, and operational support to other federal agencies.

• Establish whistleblower protections drawn from the NSM on AI, ensuring personnel can report AI misuse, civil liberties concerns, and safety violations without fear of reprisal, with anonymous and confidential reporting procedures.

The full text of the bill can be viewed HERE.

###