# Congress Proposes Federal Biometric Technology Moratorium

Congressional leaders including Senators Markey and Merkley and Representatives Jayapal, Tlaib, and Pressley have reintroduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, aiming to prohibit federal government use of facial recognition and other biometric technologies. The legislation would condition federal grant funding to state and local governments on enacting similar moratoria and prohibit federal funding for biometric surveillance systems. Agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are specifically targeted due to concerns about privacy, racial bias, and misuse of surveillance technologies. This bill, if enacted, would significantly impact procurement strategies, contract awards, and technology deployments involving biometric systems across federal agencies.

- Procurement professionals should anticipate potential restrictions or cancellations of contracts involving facial recognition and biometric technologies, especially for agencies like ICE and CBP.
- Contractors specializing in biometric surveillance systems may face reduced federal demand or new compliance requirements tied to moratorium conditions.
- State and local governments receiving federal grants may need to implement moratoria on biometric technologies, affecting regional procurement opportunities.
- Organizations should evaluate the legislative status and prepare for possible shifts in federal technology acquisition policies related to biometric surveillance.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 26, 2026

### Government Entities
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives

### Key Quotes
> Facial recognition and other biometric technologies in the hands of government agencies have become tools of authoritarianism. Agencies such as ICE and CBP are using this technology to track, target, intimidate and surveil communities across the country.
> — Senator Edward J. Markey

> Enacting a federal moratorium on this technology is critical to ensuring we can rein in inappropriate surveillance and protect our communities’ fundamental right to privacy.
> — Senator Jeff Merkley

> We have to stop the constant, nonconsensual state of surveillance that we live in, and that starts with placing a moratorium on our government’s use of facial recognition technology.
> — Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

### Sources
- [Sens. Markey, Merkley and Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology - Merkley](https://www.merkley.senate.gov/sens-markey-merkley-and-reps-jayapal-tlaib-pressley-reintroduce-legislation-to-halt-government-use-of-facial-recognition-and-other-biometric-technology/) - Merkley Senate
- [Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley and Sens. Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology - Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal](https://jayapal.house.gov/2026/09/25/reps-jayapal-tlaib-pressley-and-sens-markey-merkley-reintroduce-legislation-to-halt-government-use-of-facial-recognition-and-other-biometric-technology/) - Jayapal