Made-in-America Defense Act
Summary
The Made-in-America Defense Act mandates a review of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS)-Only List. This list contains defense articles and services that can only be transferred through the foreign military sales program, not through direct commercial sales. The Act aims to identify items that could be more efficiently transferred via direct commercial sales, potentially speeding up delivery to allies.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to changes in which defense articles and services are available through direct commercial sales. This could expedite the transfer of certain defense items to allies, reducing reliance on the Department of Defense contracting process. The review and report requirements will increase transparency regarding the efficiency of different transfer methods.
Potential Benefits
- Faster delivery of defense articles and services to allies.
- Reduced workload for the Department of State and Department of Defense in some cases.
- Enhanced U.S. national security through strengthened alliances.
- Increased U.S. competitiveness in the global arms market.
- Greater transparency in the foreign military sales process.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for reduced oversight and control over the transfer of certain defense articles and services.
- Risk of unintended consequences from shifting items from FMS to direct commercial sales.
- Possible negative impact on small businesses that rely on the FMS program.
- Increased complexity in the regulatory environment for defense exports.
- The review process itself may consume resources and time.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to provide for the common defense. By aiming to improve the efficiency of defense transfers to allies, the Act supports national security objectives. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).