Rep. Meng introduces bill in U.S. House to limit use of deadly force by federal law enforcement officers

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng in the U.S. House aims to set stricter guidelines on when federal officers may use deadly force, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.7439 was introduced on Feb. 9, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes limitations on the use of deadly force by federal law enforcement officers, mandating that such force can only be used when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to themselves or others. The bill specifies that deadly force should not be employed solely to prevent a fleeing suspect’s escape, to disable a moving vehicle, or against individuals posing a threat only to themselves or property. Additionally, it requires officers to issue a verbal warning before using deadly force, while prohibiting warning shots outside of federal prisons. The Attorney General is tasked with developing training protocols for officers regarding these standards.

The bill was introduced only by Rep. Grace Meng (Democrat-NY-6th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Meng has introduced another 17 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Grace Meng is a Representative from New York, serving in the House of Representatives since January 3, 2013, after being elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress and to the six succeeding Congresses. She previously served in the New York State Assembly from 2009 to 2012 and holds an A.B. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Yeshiva University.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.