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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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A Democratic lawmaker has reintroduced legislation aimed at limiting the flow of military grade equipment from the Pentagon to law enforcement agencies across the United States.
The proposal targets a long‑running federal program that allows surplus military equipment to be transferred to police departments, an issue that has drawn renewed attention following years of debate over policing tactics and accountability.
A Pentagon spokesperson told Newsweek: "It wouldn’t be appropriate for the Department to comment on pending or proposed legislation."
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Why It Matters
Concerns about police militarization intensified after high‑profile encounters involving heavily armed officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the use of battlefield equipment in civilian settings, according to lawmakers backing the bill in a press release entitled "Congressman Johnson reintroduces critical bill to demilitarize police."
The issue has resurfaced as Congress revisits how military resources are shared with local, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies.
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What To Know
Representative Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr., a Georgia Democrat, introduced H.R. 7766 on March 3, 2026.
The legislation is titled the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2026 and was referred to the House Armed Services Committee following its introduction.
A total of 19 House Democrats are listed as original cosponsors.
It is backed by a coalition of civil liberties, human rights, faith‑based, peace, and progressive advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International USA, and several national social justice and anti‑war groups.
The bill seeks to amend Title 10 of the United States Code to impose new limits on the Department of Defense’s transfer of surplus military property to law enforcement agencies.
Those transfers occur through the Defense Logistics Agency’s Law Enforcement Support Office, commonly known as the “1033 program,” which provides military equipment to federal, state, tribal and local police departments at no cost beyond shipping.
According to the bill's text, the program has distributed military weapons and equipment to police departments nationwide, including armored vehicles and other items originally purchased for overseas conflicts.
Johnson’s office said the measure would prohibit the transfer of equipment deemed inappropriate for civilian policing, including military‑grade weapons, armored military vehicles, grenade launchers, long‑range acoustic devices and weaponized drones.
Additional provisions would require law enforcement agencies to certify that all transferred equipment can be accounted for, ban the re‑gifting of military property, and strengthen tracking and oversight requirements.
The bill also cites prior government reviews that raised concerns about accountability and internal controls within the 1033 program.
Full List of Democrats Backing the Bill
André Carson of Indiana
Danny K. Davis of Illinois
Diana DeGette of Colorado
Lloyd Doggett of Texas
Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania
Maxwell Frost of Florida
Sylvia Garcia of Texas
Robin Kelly of Illinois
Ro Khanna of California
Summer Lee of Pennsylvania
LaMonica McIver of New Jersey
Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia's delegate
Janice Schakowsky of Illinois
David Scott of Georgia
Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia
Lateefah Simon of California
Shri Thanedar of Michigan
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
Frederica Wilson of Florida
What People Are Saying
Representative Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr., a Georgia Democrat, said in a statement released by his office on March 3, 2026: “When you see law enforcement in our communities across the country that look more like an occupying force armed to the teeth, masked and carrying weapons of war, something has gone terribly wrong.
“When law enforcement officers, particularly unaccountable federal agents dressed like commandos, are dragging American citizens from their homes, their cars and killing American citizens on our streets, it changes the entire dynamic of public safety, even our democracy. The militarization of police—whether they be local, state or federal agencies—only terrorize our communities and make us less safe.”
Nina Patel, senior policy counsel in the Justice Division at the American Civil Liberties Union, also endorsed the legislation: “The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act is a critical step toward ensuring that policing is grounded in accountability, transparency, and bound by the Constitution. Armored vehicles and battlefield weapons are meant to intimidate and escalate conflict and have no place in American streets and communities.”
What Happens Next
H.R. 7766 will be reviewed by the House Armed Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over Department of Defense programs and military policy.
Committee action will determine whether the bill advances to the full House for debate and a vote.
If approved by the House, the legislation would need to pass the Senate and be signed by the president to become law.
Update: 03/05/26, 07:27 a.m. ET. This article was updated with a Pentagon response.
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