On Jan. 25, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order (E.O.) entitled “Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers.”¹ This E.O. seeks to bolster American industry by strengthening policies and practices related to financial federal assistance awards and federal procurements that require or provide a preference for the purchase or acquisition of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States. While this E.O. has limited immediate impact, agency implementation of the E.O. over the coming months may have a significant effect on some federal procurements and federal financial assistance awards.

Key Takeaway

The “Made in America” E.O. directs a broad review and strengthening of policies and practices related to federal financial assistance awards and federal procurements that require or provide a preference for the acquisition of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States. While the E.O. has limited immediate impact, agency implementation over the coming months may have a significant effect on some federal procurements and federal financial assistance awards. Contractors and grant recipients subject to Buy America, Buy American, or similar U.S. source requirements and preferences should closely monitor agency implementation of the E.O., and evaluate whether adjustments in manufacturing processes and suppliers are necessary to ensure compliance with increased U.S. source requirements and preferences.

Read the full GT Alert “The Biden Administration’s ‘Made in America’ Executive Order: A Move to Strengthen U.S. Preferences in Federal Spending”