Ballistic Armor Made in America Act of 2026

This bill requires the Department of Justice to procure ballistic-resistant body armor made with domestic ballistic fibers. It mandates disclosure of where armor and its fibers are sourced, prohibits buying armor with foreign fibers unless exceptions apply, and provides training for state and local entities.

Sec. 2, Rules related to procurement of ballistic-resistant body armor: Within 60 days of enactment, the National Institute of Justice must require entities submitting armor to its Compliance Testing Program to disclose the country of manufacture and where ballistic fibers are grown or produced. Within 90 days, the Institute must add these disclosures to the compliant products list and update it within 30 days of certification. Armor with foreign fibers cannot be marked "Made in America." The Institute will decide if these rules apply to advanced materials replacing ballistic fibers.

Sec. 2(b), Prohibition on procurement from outside of the United States: The Attorney General cannot use Department of Justice funds to buy ballistic-resistant body armor made with ballistic fibers grown or produced outside the U.S., unless domestic armor cannot be procured as needed at U.S. market prices, or the fibers comply with the Berry Amendment and Kissel Amendment. This adds a new section 509C to title 28 of the U.S. Code, defining ballistic-resistant body armor, hard armor, and soft armor.

Sec. 2(c), Know before you buy training: The Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers must provide an educational training program for state or local government entities that have applied for or received a Department of Justice grant to buy ballistic-resistant body armor, covering the disclosure requirements.

Sec. 2(d), Definitions: Defines ballistic-resistant body armor as personal protective equipment (hard or soft armor) protecting against ballistic threats, stabbing, fragmentation, and blunt impact. Defines the compliant products list as the official list of certified armor on the Department of Justice website. Defines hard armor as rigid materials and soft armor as pliable or flexible materials used in such armor.