March 26, 2026
Mr. Cotton (for himself and Mr. Schumer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To prohibit executive agencies from procuring or operating certain unmanned ground vehicle systems, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the American Security Robotics Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on the procurement and operation of covered unmanned ground vehicle systems
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Covered nation
The term covered nation has the meaning given the term in section 4872(f) of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Covered foreign entity
The term covered foreign entity means an entity that is—
(A)
domiciled in a covered nation;
(B)
subject to the influence or control of the government of a covered nation, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of Defense; or
(C)
a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(3) Covered unmanned ground vehicle system
The term covered unmanned ground vehicle system means an unmanned ground vehicle system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity.
(4) Executive agency
The term executive agency has the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United States Code.
(5) Unmanned ground vehicle system
The term unmanned ground vehicle system means a system that includes—
(A)
a mechanical device, including a remote surveillance vehicle, autonomous patrol technology, mobile robotics, or a humanoid robot, that—
(i)
is capable of locomotion, navigation, or movement on the ground; and
(ii)
operates at a distance from a human operator or supervisor based on commands or in response to sensor data or any combination thereof;
(B)
the payload of the mechanical device described in subparagraph (A); and
(C)
any external device used to control the mechanical device described in subparagraph (A).
(b) Prohibition on procurement of covered unmanned ground vehicle systems
Except as provided under subsection (e), the head of an executive agency may not procure any covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(c) Prohibition on operation of covered unmanned ground vehicle systems
(1) In general
Except as provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, no executive agency may operate a covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(2) Applicability to contracted services
The prohibition under paragraph (1) applies to any covered unmanned ground vehicle system being used by an executive agency through a contract for the services of the covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(d) Prohibition on use of Federal funds for procurement or operation of covered unmanned ground vehicle systems
Except as provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or otherwise made available, may be used to procure or in connection with the operation of a covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(e) Exemption to prohibitions
(1) In general
The head of an agency described in paragraph (2) is exempt from the prohibitions under subsections (b), (c), and (d) if—
(A)
the procurement or operation of the covered unmanned ground vehicle system is in the national interest of the United States; and
(B)
(i)
the sole purpose for the procurement or operation is—
(I)
research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, information warfare operations, cybersecurity, or the development of unmanned ground vehicle system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle system technology; or
(II)
conducting counter-terrorism or counterintelligence activities, protective missions, or Federal criminal or national security investigations, including forensic examinations; or
(ii)
the covered unmanned ground vehicle system, as procured or as modified after procurement but before operational use—
(I)
can no longer transfer data to, or download data from, a covered foreign entity; and
(II)
poses no national security cybersecurity risk as determined by the head of the agency.
(2) Agencies described
The agencies described in this paragraph are—
(A)
the Department of Homeland Security;
(B)
the Department of Defense;
(C)
the Department of State; and
(D)
the Department of Justice.