Federal Law Enforcement Self-Defense and Protection Act of 2015
PL 114-180 (H.R.2137), enacted 06/22/2016

130 STAT. 445 
PUBLIC LAW 114–180—JUNE 22, 2016 
Public Law 114–180 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To ensure Federal law enforcement officers remain able to ensure their own safety, 
and the safety of their families, during a covered furlough. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Law Enforcement Self- 
Defense and Protection Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Too often, Federal law enforcement officers encounter 
potentially violent criminals, placing officers in danger of grave 
physical harm. 
(2) In 2012 alone, 1,857 Federal law enforcement officers 
were assaulted, with 206 sustaining serious injuries. 
(3) From 2008 through 2011, an additional 8,587 Federal 
law enforcement officers were assaulted. 
(4) Federal law enforcement officers remain a target even 
when they are off-duty. Over the past 3 years, 27 law enforce-
ment officers have been killed off-duty. 
(5) It is essential that law enforcement officers are able 
to defend themselves, so they can carry out their critical mis-
sions and ensure their own personal safety and the safety 
of their families whether on-duty or off-duty. 
(6) These dangers to law enforcement officers continue 
to exist during a covered furlough. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘agency’’ means each authority of the execu-
tive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the 
United States; 
(2) the term ‘‘covered Federal law enforcement officer’’ 
means any individual who— 
(A) is an employee of an agency; 
(B) has the authority to make arrests or apprehensions 
for, or prosecute, violations of Federal law; and 
(C) on the day before the date on which the applicable 
covered furlough begins, is authorized by the agency 
employing the individual to carry a firearm in the course 
of official duties; 
Federal Law 
Enforcement 
Self-Defense 
and Protection 
Act of 2015. 
18 USC 926B 
note. 
June 22, 2016 
[H.R. 2137] 
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130 STAT. 446 
PUBLIC LAW 114–180—JUNE 22, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2137: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–543 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 
May 10, considered and passed House. 
June 10, considered and passed Senate. 
(3) the term ‘‘covered furlough’’ means a planned event 
by an agency during which employees are involuntarily fur-
loughed due to downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work, 
or any budget situation including a lapse in appropriations; 
and 
(4) the term ‘‘firearm’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 921 of title 18, United States Code. 
SEC. 4. PROTECTING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO 
ARE SUBJECTED TO A COVERED FURLOUGH. 
During a covered furlough, a covered Federal law enforcement 
officer shall have the same rights to carry a firearm issued by 
the Federal Government as if the covered furlough was not in 
effect, including, if authorized on the day before the date on which 
the covered furlough begins, the right to carry a concealed firearm, 
if the sole reason the covered Federal law enforcement officer was 
placed on leave was due to the covered furlough. 
Approved June 22, 2016. 
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