Press Releases

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congressman Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA) introduced the Human Authority over Autonomous Weapons Act to ensure that no autonomous or artificial intelligence-enabled weapon system used by the United States military can carry out an intentionally lethal strike without meaningful human oversight or a human decision-maker in the loop. The bill would establish a clear legal requirement that commanders and operators retain appropriate levels of human judgment in decisions involving the use of lethal force.

“No machine should ever be given the power to decide to kill a human being on its own. Allowing AI systems to independently select and engage targets carries serious risks; machines cannot understand morality or the value of human life, nor can they be held accountable for mistakes, war crimes, or catastrophic escalation,” said Rep. Beyer. “These life and death decisions must remain in human hands. As AI becomes more powerful and more integrated into military systems, Congress has a responsibility to establish clear guardrails and responsible standards for the military use of AI. Our legislation would ensure that a human decision-maker always remains in the loop and integral to the chain of command when lethal force is involved.”

“Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly critical role in strengthening our national defense, but it should never be the one making life-or-death decisions,” Rep. Barrett said. “We must establish safeguards now to ensure these technologies are used ethically and transparently. This bipartisan bill sets clear limits to make sure people stay in control whenever lethal force is involved while allowing our military to continue leading the world in technological innovation.”

“AI mistakes on the battlefield have the potential to be catastrophic: civilian casualties, friendly fire, unintended escalation, and calculations made on faulty data,” said Rep. Jacobs. “These aren’t risks worth taking – not when they can result in unnecessary lives lost or war. That’s why I’m proud to join Congressman Beyer and Congressman Barrett in introducing legislation to ensure that humans are meaningfully involved before autonomous or AI-enabled weapon systems are used for lethal force. This is a common-sense step to help our military keep pace with emerging technologies while upholding our commitments to international humanitarian law and ethics.”

This legislation is also supported by organizations including Council for a Livable World, Common Defense, and Win Without War.

“Council for a Livable World is pleased to support the Human Authority over Autonomous Weapons Act as it would mark a clear step forward toward ethical oversight of emerging military technologies, which thus far have been outpacing guardrails and regulations," said Council for a Livable World Executive Director and Former Congressman John Tierney. “This bill identifies and proposes a remedy to the dangers of unmitigated autonomy of weapons, particularly weapons of mass destruction. Every lawmaker should understand the importance of keeping Americans safe by ensuring a human is always involved in decisions affecting human life. Unlike humans, machines can't apply judgments based on values and morals, and all available evidence shows machines have an alarming propensity for error. Americans should not have to face the consequences of automated weapons technology running amok. It's essential that policy makers debate and resolve how to address this critical security issue, and we applaud Rep. Beyer's focus on such a serious and urgent matter.”

“Common Defense strongly endorses the Human Authority over Autonomous Weapons Act,” said Common Defense Political Director Naveed Shah. “As an Army veteran who served in Iraq, I know the moral responsibility that comes with taking human life in combat, decisions that must never be handed over to machines. This bill ensures meaningful human control over lethal autonomous systems, restores accountability to war-making, and prevents machines from deciding the rules of engagement.”

“Decisions impacting human life and safety should never be handed off to algorithms,” said Win Without War Government Relations Associate Sofia Guerra. “When these systems fail, whether through bad data or rubber-stamp approvals, the costs are incalculable. This bill is a critical step to ensure that humans, accountable to both international law and the consequences of their actions, are making the most serious decisions regarding the use of force.”

Full text of the Human Authority over Autonomous Weapons Act is available here.