Protect Our Heroes Act of 2025

The Protect Our Heroes Act of 2025 would create two new federal criminal offenses aimed at protecting public safety officers (including federal, state, and local officers, as well as certain volunteers and judicial personnel). First, it adds a new crime for killing public safety officers (and making attempts or conspiracies to do so) when the officer is on duty or targeted for duties performed. This offense carries very stiff penalties, including potential life imprisonment or death in cases where death results, and substantial sentencing enhancements guided by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC). Second, it adds a new crime for assaults on public safety officers (and attempts or conspiracies to assault) under federal law, with penalties based on the level of injury and the use of weapons, and similarly accompanied by mandatory USSC guidelines for additional sentencing enhancements in certain cases (notably when the offender lures the victim to a location for an assault). The bill also broadens who counts as a “public safety officer” (to include firefighters, chaplains, rescue squad/ambulance crew members, and federally funded public safety officers), and it expands federal jurisdiction when interstate travel or interstate/foreign commerce channels are involved.