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Prevent the Misuse of Federal Law Enforcement Act
To limit the extent to which certain Federal law enforcement agencies may be permitted to conduct law enforcement functions in a jurisdiction without the approval of such jurisdiction, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill limits the authority of federal law enforcement agencies to operate in state and local jurisdictions without coordination. The bill restricts DEA enforcement activities to drug-related matters and investigations, prohibiting law enforcement duties unrelated to controlled substances. The bill requires the U.S. Marshals Service to obtain approval from state, tribal, or territorial chief executives before deputizing state or local law enforcement officers or other federal officers. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to obtain approval from state, tribal, or territorial chief executives before deploying additional officers during protest activity at federal property. These requirements establish a requirement for federal-state/local law enforcement coordination on certain operations.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Ted Lieu’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- NOT-EMPLOYED $255,097
- NULL $21,050
- COTCHETT, PITRE & MCCARTHY, LLP $13,200
- TRENDNET $13,200
- NETFLIX $13,200
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Ted Lieu → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Apr 22, 2026 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Apr 22, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2026
Mr. Lieu (for himself and Ms. Dexter) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To limit the extent to which certain Federal law enforcement agencies may be permitted to conduct law enforcement functions in a jurisdiction without the approval of such jurisdiction, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Prevent the Misuse of Federal Law Enforcement Act”.
SEC. 2. LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.
(a) Powers of Enforcement Personnel.—Section 508(a)(5) of the Controlled Substances Act is amended to read as follows:
“(5) perform such law enforcement duties as the Attorney General may designate as necessary to enforce the controlled substances laws of the United States, which shall not include any law enforcement duty that does not relate to, arise from, or supplement investigations of matters concerning drugs.”.
(b) U.S. Marshals Service Powers and Duties.—Section 566(c) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the period at the end the following: “The United States Marshals Service may not deputize a law enforcement officer of a State (or any unit of local government within a State), Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia, unless pursuant to a request by the chief executive of the appropriate State, Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia. The United States Marshals Service may not deputize any other law enforcement officer of the Federal Government, unless pursuant to a request by the chief executive of the appropriate State, Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia.”.
(c) Law Enforcement Authority of Secretary of Homeland Security.— Section 1315(b) of title 40, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “The Secretary” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Protests.—The Secretary may not designate additional employees of the Department of Homeland Security as officers and agents for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the Federal Government, or persons on the property, in any area in which protest activity is occurring, unless pursuant to a request by the chief executive of the appropriate State, Indian tribe, territory, or the District of Columbia. This paragraph shall not apply to the designation of employees transferred to the Department of Homeland Security from the Office of the Federal Protective Service of the General Services Administration pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002.”. <all>
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