Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth introduced legislation that would prohibit federal law enforcement officers from wearing camouflage uniforms.
The Democrat said this sort of attire worn by officers led citizens to confuse them with members of the National Guard, citing federal officers deployed to respond to the unrest this summer in Portland, Oregon, as one example.
“The Trump administration’s decision to deploy federal law enforcement officers outfitted in camouflage uniforms in response to those protesting the death of George Floyd and other black Americans blurred the lines between military service members and law enforcement officers while causing even more fear and division,” Duckworth said on Wednesday.
The Clear Visual Distinction Between Military and Law Enforcement Act seeks to forbid federal police from wearing camouflage unless they are using it to blend in as an undercover agent. Duckworth’s legislation would mandate that federal officers justify each time an officer uses camouflage in the biannual report to Congress.
Alexander McCoy, the political director of Common Defense, a liberal veteran and foreign policy advocacy group, told Stars and Stripes that veterans have been frustrated watching the public confuse the actions of federal police with members of the military.
“Many troops and veterans are very frustrated with the way law enforcement have conflated themselves with the military, wearing uniforms that confuse the public and cause panic, fear, and distrust,” McCoy said.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat who is co-sponsoring Duckworth’s legislation, agreed that the use of camouflage by federal agents has confused the public.
“Citizens of a free society shouldn’t be constantly confused about who is military and who is law enforcement,” Kaine said. “Sadly, that has become a regular occurrence across the U.S. this year. This bill will clarify who is who amid protests, strengthening both our liberties and our security.”
