A bill filed in Congress this week by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, would ban federal law enforcement officers from wearing military camouflage patterns in the United States in most cases.
The
Duckworth, a combat veteran who now serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the bill along with fellow Senate Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Cory Booker of New Jersey.
Federal officers wearing camouflage "can easily be confused for military personnel," the senators wrote in an announcement for the bill.
"You want a clear definition between that which is military and that which is police, in my view," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in July.
Duckworth and other lawmakers have been critical of what they characterize as the Trump administration's "militarization" of police against fellow Americans and the use of military patterns for officials who are not part of the United States Armed Forces.
“The Trump Administration’s decision to deploy federal law enforcement officers outfitted in camouflage uniforms in response to those protesting the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans blurred the lines between military service members and law enforcement officers while causing even more fear and division,” Duckworth said in a statement. “We must prevent this from happening again."
While the legislation allows for rare exceptions, it also calls for oversight of those instances through reports to Congress.
“Citizens of a free society shouldn’t be constantly confused about who is military and who is law enforcement,” Kaine said. “Sadly, that has become a regular occurrence across the U.S. this year. This bill will clarify who is who amid protests, strengthening both our liberties and our security.”