Roy Pushes FISA Amendment to Kill Biden-Era Car Surveillance Mandate

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is introducing an amendment to the FISA reauthorization bill to eliminate a 'kill switch' mandate for new vehicles. The mandate, part of the 2021 HALT Drunk Driving Act, requires automakers to install surveillance technology to monitor drivers' performance and detect impairment. Roy argues that the mandate poses a 'direct threat to our Fourth Amendment rights' and enables 'round-the-clock monitoring of Americans in their own cars.' The HALT Act was passed with bipartisan support, including 19 Republican senators and 13 Republican representatives, and was backed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which claims the technology will save 10,000 lives annually. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was required to publish a draft of the mandate by 2024 but has not done so as of January 2026. Roy's amendment has support from House conservatives, including Reps. Thomas Massie, Scott Perry, and Keith Self.