AUVSI Statement on Introduction of the GUARD Act

June 2, 2026

AUVSI commends House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, and Rep. Jay Obernolte for introducing the bipartisan Guarding the U.S. against Adversarial Robotics Dominance Act of 2026 (GUARD Act), which takes an important step toward protecting American infrastructure and the domestic robotics industry from high-risk foreign adversary systems.

In May 2025, all 24 members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter urging the Department of War, Department of Commerce, and FCC to investigate Unitree and consider placing it on the Covered List. The GUARD Act builds on that momentum, moving from industry calls to action to binding statutory policy. 

“AUVSI applauds the leadership of Chairman Moolenaar, Rep. McClellan, and Rep. Obernolte in introducing the GUARD Act. As robotics become more deeply embedded across the U.S. economy and manufacturing base, it is imperative that we protect against high-risk Chinese Communist Party-controlled systems that could expose sensitive data, create persistent access, or enable remote disruption. The GUARD Act establishes an important framework to identify and restrict adversarial robotics before strategic dependence takes hold,” said Michael Robbins, President & CEO of AUVSI. 

The GUARD Act would direct an appropriate national security agency to evaluate certain humanoid and quadruped robotics systems, from countries of concern, including China,  for national security risk, with systems that pose an unacceptable risk, or are not evaluated within the required timeframe, placed on the FCC Covered List and effectively restricted from sale in the United States. 

The GUARD Act advances the goals of AUVSI’s Partnership for Robotics Competitiveness, which is working to secure American leadership in a resilient, trusted robotics ecosystem by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and ensuring the United States sets the global standard for safe and responsible robotics. 

AUVSI looks forward to continuing to work with Congress, industry, and stakeholders to advance policies that promote secure, trusted, and innovative robotics and autonomous systems in the United States.