Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have introduced new legislation that would prohibit Federal agencies from buying technology products from “grey-market” sellers rather than authorized dealers.
The Securing America’s Federal Equipment (SAFE) in Supply Chains Act – introduced on July 11 – aims to boost cybersecurity by ensuring government agencies do not unintentionally acquire counterfeit electronics or those from unauthorized sellers.
“The federal government has a responsibility to purchase technology that will help keep Americans’ data secure and strengthen our defense against a potential cyberattack,” said Sen. Peters. “This legislation takes an important step towards protecting our national security interests and securing our domestic supply chains.”
The senators said that grey-market sellers may circumvent trusted supply chains and provide counterfeit technology that could harm security networks within the Federal government. “These counterfeit devices are often older and may contain unsafe and unreliable components, causing technology to malfunction or completely fail, leading to significant damage to networks and operations,” they said.
The SAFE in Supply Chains Act would prohibit the head of an agency from using a covered product from an entity other than an original equipment manufacturer or authorized seller. But it would also allow the head of an agency to waive the prohibition if they determine the waiver is necessary in the interest of national security.
“From the pandemic to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and other global conflicts, the last few years have taught us just how important a secure domestic supply chain is to America’s national security,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This commonsense legislation would require government agencies to only purchase reliable electronics from trustworthy sellers, helping safeguard our cybersecurity from bad actors around the world.”
