Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The President has issued an order establishing that critical materials and components for military equipment must be sourced domestically or from allied nations to maintain U.S. military effectiveness and technology dominance. The policy emphasizes the need to secure supply chains against threats including physical, cyber, and economic subversion.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the Secretaries of the military departments must stop issuing waivers that allow the acquisition of covered materials not compliant with statutory requirements under 10 U.S.C. 4872, except under specific conditions detailed in the order. Waivers must be based on a formal mitigation plan submitted by contractors, which must identify the source of non-compliant materials, demonstrate efforts to acquire compliant materials, outline removal steps for non-compliant materials, and set a strict implementation timeline.
The order responds to past under-prioritization of domestic production by defense contractors, despite existing prohibitions against sourcing sensitive materials from geopolitical adversaries. The administration aims to ensure strict compliance with statutory requirements to build resilient domestic and allied supply chains for defense purposes.