Federal Acquisition Security Council Improvement Act of 2026

Enhanced National Security through Risk Management: The bill establishes clearer definitions for "source of concern," targeting entities subject to the control of foreign adversaries or those affiliated with foreign military or intelligence agencies (Section 2(a)(5)). This could help protect the United States by better identifying and managing security risks in the supply chain.

Improved Administrative Support: The creation of a Federal Acquisition Security Council Program Office provides the Council with dedicated administrative, legal, and policy support (Section 2(c)(2)). This specialized help is intended to provide expertise on information communications technology and acquisition security.

Clearer Procurement Security Procedures: The bill implements a prioritization scheme for evaluating security risks associated with the acquisition and use of covered articles (Section 2(c)(1)(7)). This provides a more structured way to handle risks from "covered sources of concern."

Increased Oversight and Accountability: The Council is required to report to Congress annually on security risks associated with the acquisition and use of covered articles (Section 2(c)(1)(11)). This ensures that the government's actions regarding security risks are subject to legislative review.

Potential Financial Burdens: When issuing orders, the Council must consider the potential direct or quantifiable costs that may be incurred by the Federal Government, state, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector (Section 2(c)(3)(A)(ii)). This suggests that security mandates could result in significant unexpected costs for various entities.

Restrictions on Information Access: Information collected regarding orders is exempt from public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act until an order is issued (Section 2(c)(3)(F)). This could limit transparency regarding how security decisions are being made.

Increased Procurement Disruptions: The Council has the power to issue orders requiring the exclusion of certain sources from any executive agency procurement action or the removal of covered articles from information systems (Section 2(c)(3)(A)(i)). This could lead to sudden disruptions for businesses and government agencies that rely on those specific sources or articles.