House Republicans joined Democrats to keep a federal mandate requiring all new vehicles to include technology that could remotely disable your car, rejecting an amendment that would have stripped funding for this alarming government overreach.
Story Snapshot
- House rejected amendment to defund vehicle “kill switch” mandate by 229-201 vote, with 19 Republicans siding with Democrats
- Federal law requires all 2026+ vehicles to include technology that monitors drivers and can prevent vehicle operation
- Critics warn the broad legislative language creates dangerous precedent for government surveillance and remote control of private vehicles
- Rep. Thomas Massie led defunding effort while new legislation to repeal mandate remains stalled in committee
Failed Amendment Reveals Republican Split on Privacy Rights
The House of Representatives rejected Representative Thomas Massie’s amendment to defund a federal vehicle control mandate during consideration of a must-pass omnibus spending bill in late 2023. The Kentucky Republican’s effort failed 229-201, with nineteen Republicans breaking ranks to join all 210 Democrats in preserving funding for the controversial requirement. Massie read the actual statutory language on the House floor, highlighting concerns that many lawmakers may not have fully understood what they authorized in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Even Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supported the amendment, demonstrating rare bipartisan recognition of the privacy concerns at stake.
Infrastructure Bill Embedded Sweeping Vehicle Control Powers
Section 24220 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandates that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration prescribe federal safety standards requiring all passenger vehicles include “advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology.” The technology must passively monitor driver performance to identify impairment, accurately detect blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08 percent, and prevent or limit vehicle operation when impairment is detected. While ostensibly designed to reduce drunk driving fatalities, the legislation’s vague language raises serious questions about mission creep and expanded government surveillance capabilities beyond the stated safety purpose.
Constitutional Concerns Mount Over Surveillance and Control
Wayne Crews of the Competitive Enterprise Institute warns the mandate represents “precisely the kind of overreach that will empower regulatory agencies to manage behavior without votes by elected representatives in Congress or real accountability.” The requirement for passive monitoring creates immediate privacy concerns regarding in-car audio surveillance and driver behavior data collection. All vehicle owners purchasing cars from 2026 onward will have this technology installed whether they consent or not. The precedent extends beyond drunk driving detection, potentially establishing framework for government agencies to remotely disable vehicles for reasons unrelated to safety, fundamentally altering the relationship between citizens and their private property.
Legislative Efforts to Repeal Mandate Stall in Committee
Representative Scott Perry introduced H.R.1137, the No Kill Switches in Cars Act, on February 7, 2025, to repeal the vehicle control requirement. As of January 2026, the bill remains stalled in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with “Introduced” status, having not advanced to a floor vote despite ongoing conservative and libertarian opposition. Governor Ron DeSantis and Representative Kat Hageman have publicly criticized the mandate as excessive federal control over personal vehicles. The technology’s implementation deadline looms while manufacturers prepare compliance systems, yet no federal motor vehicle safety standard currently exists detailing exact technical specifications. This regulatory uncertainty compounds concerns about data security vulnerabilities and potential unauthorized access to vehicle control systems that could affect millions of American drivers.
Sources:
CEI: House Vote Today Could Help End Vehicle “Kill Switch” Mandate
Congress.gov: H.R.1137 – No Kill Switches in Cars Act
Rep. Hageman Fights Law That Mandates Government-Controlled ‘Kill Switch’ in All Cars
Fox News: House GOP Slammed After Conservatives Join Dems on Controversial ‘Kill Switch’ Amendment
