Kennedy, Rick Scott introduce No Bounties on Badges Act to crack down on threats against law enforcement

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and four colleagues in introducing the No Bounties on Badges Act.

The bill would explicitly allow the U.S. Attorney General to offer federal rewards for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of people who offer bounties against law enforcement officers, or leads to the prevention of these bounties.

"Narco-terrorists and violent lunatics are offering cash rewards for the physical harm of American law enforcement officers. That's despicable and cannot stand. The No Bounties on Badges Act would strengthen the good guys' ability to identify, stop and prosecute sick monsters who put officers' lives at risk," said Kennedy.

"Our men and women in law enforcement already face enormous risks, and anyone who puts a price on harming them should be held fully accountable. My No Bounties on Badges Act makes clear that the federal government will aggressively pursue anyone who offers bounties or financial incentives to target the men and women who protect our communities. By expanding reward authority, we're giving investigators another tool to stop these violent acts before they happen. I will continue working to ensure our officers have the support, protection, and respect they deserve for putting their lives on the line protecting us all," said Scott.

The introduction of the No Bounties on Badges Act comes in the wake of October 2025 reports that Mexican gangs had offered bounties of up to $50,000 for the assassination of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The No Bounties on Badges Act would allow the Department of Justice to target similar criminals more aggressively.

Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) cosponsored the bill.

"Every day, our law enforcement officers answer the call to keep our communities safe. Any bounty placed on their heads is intolerable and will be confronted with the full force of the law. I am proud to stand with Senator Scott to empower the Attorney General to find these criminals and hold them accountable for threats to our police," said Budd.

Full text of the No Bounties on Badges Act is available here.