President Biden issued an executive order today aimed at fortifying America’s supply chains, with a particular emphasis on critical infrastructure (CI).
The order solidifies the establishment of a White House council specifically geared towards bolstering supply chain resilience. A key task for this council is conducting a thorough review of industries critical to national or economic security every four years.
The first report is due no later than Dec. 31.
The report must include recommendations on how the Federal government’s supply chain policies could better support and strengthen critical infrastructure. It must also include a strategy to guide U.S. engagement with allies and partners to strengthen global supply chain resilience in critical sectors.
The report will also include education and workforce reforms aimed at strengthening the domestic industrial base for critical materials and services.
“Pandemics and other biological threats, cyberattacks, climate stressors and extreme weather events, transnational corruption, terrorist attacks, geopolitical disputes, unfair economic competition, and other disruptive conditions can reduce critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and processing capacity and the availability of critical goods, materials, and services,” the White House stated.
Therefore, according to the White House, to build resilient supply chains, efforts must focus on boosting domestic manufacturing, supporting research and development, fostering innovation, strengthening critical infrastructure, and recruiting high-quality talent.
In line with this effort, the council is directed to promote Federal efforts “to strengthen long-term supply chain resilience and American industrial competitiveness; identify and provide a coordinated response to address supply chain insecurities, threats, and vulnerabilities.”
The White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience – led by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy – includes members from several government agencies, such as the secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, and the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Within 30 days of this order, each council member must appoint a senior official from their agency to coordinate with the council and oversee supply chain resilience efforts. The co-chairs are authorized to create council subgroups composed of members or their designees, as needed.
