GUARD Act of 2026

Guarding the U.S. against Adversarial Robotics Dominance Act of 2026 or the GUARD Act of 2026

This bill requires robotics communications equipment and services associated with certain countries of concern to be reviewed for potential risk to U.S. national security. Equipment or services found to pose an unacceptable risk must be added to the Federal Communications Commission’s Covered List. Under current law, equipment and services on this list are subject to various restrictions, including a general prohibition on the import or sale of listed equipment in the United States.

Under the bill, covered robotics communications equipment or services means any humanoid or quadruped robot, or related software, that is (1) communications software or equipment, and (2) produced or provided by an entity located in or subject to the influence or control of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Syria (or an affiliate of such an entity).

Specifically, within one year of enactment, one of several specified national security agencies must review all covered robotics communications equipment or services and determine if they pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the safety of U.S. persons. Equipment or services determined to pose an unacceptable risk must be added to the Covered List within 30 days. Any determination that equipment or services do not pose an unacceptable risk must be reviewed by other national security agencies.

If an agency does not make a required determination within one year, all covered equipment and services must be added to the list.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov