New Executive Order On Manufacturing Sheds Light On Possible Regulatory Changes For Defense Contractors

On July 21, 2017, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 13,806 on "Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States." Noting that the ability of United States domestic manufacturers to supply "essential components" that are "critical to national security" is "essential to the economic strength and national security of the United States," the Order announced a policy of fostering "healthy manufacturing and defense industrial base and resilient supply chains."

After lamenting the "loss of more than 60,000 American factories, key companies, and almost 5 million manufacturing jobs" since 2000, the Order called for a "comprehensive evaluation of the defense industrial base and supply chains" in order to help determine what further actions are needed to buttress these sectors of the American economy. Specifically, the Order requires the Department of Defense and other defense-related agencies to