WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) released the following statement after key provisions from her bipartisan REFOCUS DODEA Act, legislation aimed at prohibiting smartphone use during instructional hours in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, are included in the final Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“Cell phones should be banned in every K-12 classroom in America,” said Slotkin. “We are taking a big step forward by banning phones during class time for the 65,000 students in Department of Defense classrooms around the world. Parents, educators, and experts agree that access to phones make it harder for our kids to focus and learn, and this bipartisan measure will help the next generation succeed at school without distractions.”
She co-led the legislation with U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN). The provisions direct the Secretary of Defense and the Director of DoDEA to implement clear regulations banning the use of smartphones in the classroom during the school day and requiring students to store their cell phones in secure lockers, pouches, or containers during the school day to ensure that cell phones do not distract students from learning, with exceptions for emergencies and medical needs.
###