AI Guardrails Act of 2026 (S. 4113) — limits on Department of Defense use of AI

Summary

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced S. 4113 on March 17, 2026. It would bar the Department of Defense from using AI to launch or detonate a nuclear weapon. It would also bar using AI to monitor, track, profile or target people or groups in the United States without an individualized, articulable legal basis. Lethal force by autonomous weapon systems would require appropriate levels of human judgment and supervision. The Secretary of Defense could waive the autonomous-weapons limit for up to one year at a time, with a certification and notice to Congress. Slotkin says she worked the bill into the Senate Armed Services Committee's FY2027 NDAA, which the committee reported in June 2026. Final enactment had not been confirmed when this record was checked.

Key dates

1. March 17, 2026Issued
2. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
3. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. Today, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced the AI Guardrails Act to establish left and right limits on how the Department of Defense can use AI.

   Supports: Sponsor and subject

   Slotkin Legislation Puts Common-sense Guardrails on DOD AI Use Office of Sen. Elissa Slotkin Primary source

2. March 17, 2026 Ms. Slotkin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

   Supports: Bill number, date, referral

   (1) For the execution of launching or detonating a nuclear weapon.

   Supports: Nuclear prohibition

   (2) For the monitoring, tracking, profiling, or targeting of individuals or groups in the United States, without an individualized, articulable legal basis, regardless of the origin of the data used.

   Supports: Surveillance prohibition

   (3) In the employment of lethal force by autonomous weapon systems without appropriate levels of human judgment and supervision.

   Supports: Autonomous weapons limit

   S. 4113 (IS) — AI Guardrails Act of 2026 U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo) Primary source

3. I also worked to include my AI Guardrails Act which for the first time will set left and right limits on the Pentagon’s use of AI

   Supports: Inclusion in SASC FY2027 NDAA

   Slotkin Statement on Voting No in the Armed Services Committee on 2027 Pentagon Budget Office of Sen. Elissa Slotkin Primary source