H.R. 7136: Special Operator Protection Act of 2026
Sponsor
Richard Hudson
Republican · NC-9
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 16, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Why it matters
Introduced on January 16, 2026, the bill responds to growing concern that posting personal details about special operations personnel and their families can be used to threaten or enable violent attacks.
The penalties are significant. The standard punishment is a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both. If death or serious bodily injury results, the penalty rises to a fine under title 18, imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or both. The bill does not include a funding authorization, grant program, or implementation money. Its practical effect would come through federal criminal enforcement and a technical amendment adding new section 120 to the chapter 7 table of sections in title 18.
What does H.R. 7136 do?
Creates new federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 120
The bill creates a new section, 18 U.S.C. § 120, making it a federal offense to knowingly make restricted personal information publicly available about a covered person or that person’s immediate family.
Up to 5 years in prison
A person convicted under the bill faces a fine under title 18, imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both, if they publicly post the information with intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite a crime of violence.
Life sentence if death or serious injury results
If the offense results in death or serious bodily injury, the penalty increases to a fine under title 18 and imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
Covers DoD and federal officers too
Protected individuals include not only members of the special operations forces, but also Department of Defense employees or Armed Forces members defined in 10 U.S.C. § 101(a) who are designated by the Secretary of Defense for sensitive activities under 10 U.S.C. § 130g, plus federal law enforcement officers assigned or attached to special operations forces.
Targets specific data like DOB and SSN
Restricted personal information includes exact categories such as date of birth, Social Security number, home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, personal email, home fax number, and biometric data, along with photos of a person’s face or home when linked to the person’s name and place of employment.
Applies to immediate family protections
The bill extends protection beyond the operator by covering the immediate family of a covered person, using the definition already found in 18 U.S.C. § 115(c).
Who benefits from H.R. 7136?
Special operations forces members
They gain a new federal legal shield against doxxing and other public disclosure of information such as home address, mobile phone number, Social Security number, and biometric data when the disclosure is tied to threats or violence.
Immediate family of covered personnel
Family members benefit because the bill explicitly protects the immediate family of a covered person, not just the operator, from public release of restricted personal information used to threaten or facilitate a crime of violence.
Designated Department of Defense personnel in sensitive activities
Department of Defense employees and Armed Forces members, as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 101(a), who are designated by the Secretary of Defense and participate in activities defined in 10 U.S.C. § 130g would receive the same federal protection.
Federal law enforcement officers working with special operations forces
Federal law enforcement officers assigned or attached to, or performing duty with, special operations forces would also be covered, giving them access to the bill’s criminal protections if their information is exposed.
Who is affected by H.R. 7136?
People who publicly post personal information online
Anyone who knowingly makes restricted personal information public with the required intent or knowledge could face federal prosecution, including up to 5 years in prison or, if death or serious bodily injury results, any term of years or life.
Websites, forums, and social media users handling sensitive personal data
Platforms and users may face greater scrutiny when posts include items specifically named in the bill, such as date of birth, home address, personal email, photos of a home tied to a person’s job, or biometric data.
Federal prosecutors and investigators
They would gain a new federal criminal tool in title 18, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 120, to pursue cases involving doxxing-like conduct aimed at threatening, intimidating, or facilitating a crime of violence.
Department of Defense and partner agencies
The Department of Defense would play a direct role because the Secretary of Defense decides which Defense Department employees or Armed Forces members are designated as covered persons for sensitive activities under 10 U.S.C. § 130g.
H.R. 7136 Common Questions
How much prison time for doxxing special operations forces under HR 7136?
Under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(c)), the standard penalty is a fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
Can you get life in prison if posting a special operator's personal info leads to death?
Yes. Under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(c)), if death or serious bodily injury results, the penalty can be any term of years or life imprisonment.
What personal information about special operators would be illegal to post under HR 7136?
According to HR 7136 Section 2, restricted data includes date of birth, Social Security number, home address, home and mobile phone numbers, personal email, home fax, and biometric data.
Does HR 7136 make posting a special operator's photo or home image a federal crime?
Yes, in certain cases. Under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(a)), a face photo or home image tied to the person's name and place of employment is restricted personal information.
Can posting a special operator's family address be a federal crime under the new bill?
Yes. Under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(b)), the ban covers restricted personal information about a covered person or that person's immediate family.
Which family members are protected under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026?
The bill protects a covered person's immediate family, using the definition already in 18 U.S.C. § 115(c), according to the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(a)).
Does HR 7136 only protect military special operators, or also federal agents with them?
It also covers federal law enforcement officers assigned, attached to, or performing duty with special operations forces, under HR 7136 Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(a).
Can Department of Defense civilians in sensitive activities be covered by HR 7136?
Yes. Under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(a)), covered persons include DoD employees or Armed Forces members designated by the Secretary of Defense for sensitive activities.
Does HR 7136 require intent to threaten or intimidate before posting becomes a crime?
Yes. According to HR 7136 Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(b), liability requires knowingly making the information public with intent to threaten, intimidate, incite, or facilitate a crime of violence.
Is biometric data of special operators protected under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026?
Yes. Under the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026 (Section 2, new 18 U.S.C. § 120(a)), biometric data is expressly listed as restricted personal information.
Based on H.R. 7136 bill text
HR7136 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jan 16, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Richard Hudson
Republican, North Carolina's 9th congressional district · 13 years in Congress
Committees: Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (1)
This bill has 1 cosponsor: 1 Republican. Cosponsors represent 1 state: North Carolina.
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
0 of 42 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
24 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 7136 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Introduced
- Jan 16, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 16, 2026
Official Sources
Official bill page with text, actions, sponsors, and status for the Special Operator Protection Act of 2026.
Official U.S. Code source for Title 18, which this bill would amend by adding proposed section 120.
Official Department of Defense site for U.S. Special Operations Command, the military community whose personnel are central to the bill.
Official DOJ resource on misuse of personal identifying information, relevant to the bill's restrictions on posting addresses, Social Security numbers, and other personal data.
H.R. 7136 Bill Text
“To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit doxing of special operations personnel, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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