Schiff’s Bill to Put Humans in Charge of AI Weapons
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D -CA) introduced legislation this week requiring the Defense Department to keep human commanders in the decision-making chain for any autonomous or semi-autonomous lethal weapons system that uses artificial intelligence.
The Human Authority in Lethal Operations (HALO) Act of 2026, introduced ahead of Senate consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), would mandate a clear chain of command with a designated human commander holding ultimate discretion over the use of force through any AI-enabled autonomous weapon system.
The bill would also require a full review structure before any covered weapon system is developed or fielded, establish ongoing testing and evaluation requirements, and prohibit the use of AI to profile or monitor individuals solely for exercising constitutional rights, according to Schiff’s office. The legislation would extend those prohibitions to Defense Department logistics, intelligence, and operational support to other federal agencies.
“The past few months have shown us that there is an urgent need for commonsense guardrails to ensure the Defense Department’s use of AI is in line with Americans’ national security and privacy priorities,” said Schiff. “There are good reasons to use AI technology to advance our national security; however, just as with any tool, we cannot depend on technology alone to guide us, particularly when the risks of harm can be fatal. My legislation would protect Americans from unlawful domestic surveillance, ensure that humans in the chain of command exercise responsibility for the use of any lethal technology, and maintain strong ethical protections in the deployment of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons.”
The bill would also prohibit removing a human from the decision-making chain for initiating or terminating nuclear weapons employment, bar the Pentagon from purchasing personal data from third parties in violation of the Act, and establish whistleblower protections for personnel who report AI misuse, civil liberties concerns, or safety violations — with anonymous and confidential reporting procedures.
Schiff said the legislation is the result of extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, defense experts, and international humanitarian organizations.
Cisneros Brings Home the Bacon for Servicemembers
U.S. Rep. Gil Cisneros (D – El Monte, West Covina, Baldwin Park, Azusa, Covina, Glendora, La Puente, San Dimas, Monrovia, San Gabriel Valley) secured 29 legislative priorities totaling more than $369 million in authorized funding in the House Armed Services Committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week, with a focus on servicemember pay and benefits, and military mental health.
Cisneros targeted a broad range of personnel and readiness issues in the markup, including coordinating between the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs on duty status reform to ensure equitable pay and benefits; and ensuring that commissary grocery prices are not increased for military families.
“Our servicemembers and military families deserve the best, and I’m proud to champion and support efforts that will implement critical upgrades in military technology and equipment, give our servicemembers a well-earned pay increase, protect collective bargaining rights, expand mental health resources, invest in our local small businesses, and work on a path forward to consolidate our overly complicated duty status system,” said Cisneros, a Navy Veteran and the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
Additional funding priorities secured by Cisneros include $198 million for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program supporting at-risk teens; $75.6 million for Navy Tuition Assistance; $61 million for scientific research, laboratory equipment, and STEM summer internships for minority students; $35 million for the California Army National Guard; and $16 million for small businesses in his district.
The full NDAA now advances to a vote on the House floor later this year.
Barger Marks New Chapter for Altadena Community Center
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R – Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) joined residents, community partners, and county officials Sunday to celebrate the reopening of the Altadena Community Center — a facility damaged in the Eaton Fire just days after the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) assumed operations there in January 2025.
The open house, themed “New Beginnings,” drew community members who toured the renovated facility, met with county departments and local organizations, received health screenings, and weighed in on future programming.
Less than 18 months ago, the center was closed for smoke damage and repurposed as a support center for wildfire survivors. It now operates as a full community hub offering services, recovery support, and space for civic engagement, with a freshly renovated large hall featuring new paint, lighting, and multimedia upgrades.
“The Altadena Community Center has always been a place where neighbors connect and support one another,” said Barger. “As Altadena continues to recover and rebuild, it’s essential that community spaces evolve to meet residents’ changing needs. This renewed facility will help ensure that local families have access to services, resources, and opportunities close to home.”
The center’s growing network of partners includes the Altadena Chamber of Commerce, Altadena Heritage, Altadena Historical Society, Altadena NAACP, Altadena Town Council, and the Sheriff’s Support Group.
Event partners included the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Mental Health, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Huntington Hospital, and Foothill Family Services.
For more information on upcoming programs, visit dcba.lacounty.gov/altadena-center.
Prang Opens Free Six-Week Path to a Government Career
Property taxes may not be glamorous, but Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang is betting there’s a workforce out there ready to make a career of them — for free.
Prang’s office has partnered with Mt. SAC School of Continuing Education to offer the next session of the Ownership Services Technician (OST) Program, a tuition-free six-week vocational training course. The program covers California change-in-ownership laws and procedures, forms of individual property ownership, life estates, trusts, and leases. It is also designed to benefit real estate agents, paralegals, property managers, estate professionals, and notaries.
For those who complete the course successfully, there is a potential pathway to employment as an Ownership Services Technician I with the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office, the largest local assessment agency in the nation.
“This program provides a unique opportunity for students and working professionals to gain practical knowledge in one of the most specialized and important areas of property taxation,” said Prang. “For those interested in public service, real estate, or legal professions, this course offers valuable training and a potential pathway to employment with the largest local assessment agency in the nation.”
The summer 2026 session runs June 22 through July 30, with classes held on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. via live Zoom.
For more information, contact Mt. SAC’s Short-Term Vocational Department at (909) 274-5723 or stv@mtsac.edu. Applications are being accepted now at mtsac.edu/noncreditapp. Space is limited.
