H.R. 7766, the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act, would severely restrict the Defense Department's ability to transfer military equipment to local police departments. The bill responds to concerns that the existing 1033 program, which has distributed over $6.8 billion in military weapons and gear to law enforcement agencies, has inadequate safeguards—particularly after the Trump administration rescinded Obama-era and Biden-era restrictions on transferring dangerous equipment like suppressors and armored vehicles in January 2025. The legislation would ban transfers of automatic weapons, grenades, explosives, combat drones, and combat aircraft to police, while allowing only limited transfers of non-automatic firearms and certain vehicles subject to strict certification requirements. The bill would also impose new oversight measures including mandatory community notification, annual congressional reporting, equipment inventories, and requirements that agencies return equipment if they face civil liberties violation investigations. These restrictions would apply immediately upon enactment and would affect all law enforcement agencies receiving equipment through the Defense Department's transfer program.
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