GATE CRASHERS Act

S. 115, the GATE CRASHERS Act, would establish a new federal criminal offense for entering Department of Defense property that is closed or restricted to the public without proper authorization. This legislation is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced in the Senate in January 2025 and referred to committee for consideration.

If enacted, this bill would give federal law enforcement additional tools to prosecute individuals who illegally access military facilities and restricted areas. The practical effect would be that trespassing on certain DoD properties could result in federal criminal charges rather than being handled solely through state or local trespassing laws. This could apply to situations ranging from individuals accidentally wandering onto military grounds to more serious cases involving deliberate attempts to access sensitive military installations.