Sponsors (2)
The bill centralizes and strengthens oversight, tracking, and cybersecurity of DPA authorities—improving accountability and protection of records—but it increases costs, administrative workload, and may limit some public detail for security reasons.
Congress, federal employees, and taxpayers will gain clearer, more actionable oversight because DPA use will be tracked publicly, reports refocused, and GAO will review coordination and authorities within two years.
Federal departments and agencies will have centralized, full-time leadership for DPA authorities because a new SES Chair at Commerce will coordinate use, information sharing, and committee recommendations.
The Registry will have stronger cybersecurity requirements, reducing the risk that DPA usage records are manipulated or exposed to cyberattacks.
Taxpayers may face higher federal costs because creating a full-time SES Chair, staffing coordinators, and building/securing the Registry require new funding or budget reallocations.
Federal agencies and staff will see added administrative burden because departments must designate SES coordinators within 90 days and maintain quarterly Registry updates and reports.
Public transparency could be reduced because the bill narrows one annual reporting item and allows withholding of sensitive national-security details from the public Registry.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Commerce-led DPA Committee Chair, tightens committee coordination, and requires a secure public registry of federal DPA authority uses with GAO review.
Official title: To amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to require the establishment of a DPA Registry, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by James A. Himes · Last progress May 21, 2025
Changes to the Defense Production Act (DPA) tighten committee governance, create a dedicated Commerce Department Chair position to lead the DPA Committee, require agency coordinators and budget support, and mandate a secure, searchable electronic registry that records how federal DPA authorities are used. The bill also requires a Comptroller General review within two years to assess committee coordination, information sharing, and use of DPA authorities.