Cybersecurity Policy Report, Cyber Risks From Chinese Robots Gain Bicameral Attention, (Mar 27, 2026)
A House bill has been introduced as a companion to Senate legislation that would ban the federal government from buying or using Chinese robots.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) has introduced a House version of the American Security Robotics Act, she announced today in a news release. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, yesterday introduced the Senate version of the bill (S 4235) (CPR, March 26).
The bill would ban the federal government “from procuring and operating unmanned ground vehicle systems manufactured by foreign entities of concern, including humanoid robots and autonomous patrol technology,” Rep. Stefanik explained.
“One of America’s greatest strengths is the ingenuity of our people—our visionaries, inventors, engineers, and dedicated workers. We must continue to promote and propel America’s robotics superiority while safeguarding our privacy and national security from adversaries,” she said.
Jack Burnham, a senior research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, called the legislation “one of the strongest efforts yet to limit robots produced by foreign adversaries from entering the United States.”
In a policy brief, Mr. Burnham noted that the Chinese government and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were subsidizing Chinese manufacturers to gain dominance in the sector. “The United States should target Chinese robotics firms seeking to expand within the American market while simultaneously receiving support from the PLA,” he said.
“Moreover, the Federal Communications Commission should consider adding certain Chinese robots that connect to the internet to the Covered List, preventing their sale in the American market,” he said.
“The Commerce Department should also consider more targeted export controls on software and hardware components used by Chinese firms,” he added. “This effort should be conducted in concert with Japan, Germany, and South Korea, all of which remain key nodes in both humanoid and industrial robotic supply chains.”
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