Senator Lankford’s Bipartisan Bill to Safeguard National Security from Supply Chain Security Threats Approved by Senate

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) applauded the passage of the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) of 2018, which is an important national security priority. Lankford is the lead Republican on the legislation joining Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). The bill will ensure government agencies consider the supply chain risks to national security and public interest when buying information technology (IT). The legislation will establish a council to equip the government with the policies and process for sharing information and evaluating supply chain risks earlier in the IT purchasing cycle. The measure would also provide the government with critical authorities to mitigate threats when they are discovered. The bill comes in the aftermath of national security issues surrounding the use of foreign technology platforms in government and national security systems, like Kaspersky and ZTE products.

“The Senate passage of this bill helps the federal government move in the right direction to strengthen cybersecurity vulnerabilities,” said Lankford. “We must have a process in place to address security threats in our supply chain before they become security realities. We should learn from past mistakes in purchasing and close our security gaps.”

The Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) of 2018 creates a government-wide approach to addressing the problem of supply chain security in federal acquisitions by establishing a Federal Acquisition Security Council to develop the policies and processes for agencies to use when purchasing information technology. The legislation bridges the information gap between the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense, and the rest of the government on technology vulnerabilities and characteristics that could jeopardize our national security. FASCSA arms the heads of civilian agencies with vital information earlier in the purchasing process so they can make informed decisions based on clear standards for risk tolerance, and it requires greater accountability and transparency in the process.  

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