Tag: Waivers

GAO Criticizes Oversight of Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreements

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported to Congress in December 2024 on failures of the Department of Defense (DOD) and other agencies in initiating and monitoring Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) Agreements. The GAO prepared its report

Biden Administration Proposes to Reduce Buy American Exceptions

The Biden administration has taken another (and perhaps final) step in implementing the president’s 2021 Made in America order to strengthen “Buy American” requirements in order to support domestic manufacturing. A key pillar of that order was to

Administration’s Report on Impact of Agreements on Buy American Laws

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) posted a “Report on the Impact of Free Trade Agreements on Buy American Laws” (Report) on its website, dated February 2024. The Report was in response to a directive in the infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Biden Administration Proposes End to Highway Waiver

The Biden administration wants to eliminate a Buy America waiver that has allowed the purchase of foreign manufactured goods for use in highway projects since the 1980s. In his State-of-the-Union address on March 7, 2024, President Biden declared “’Buy

Buy American Waiver Website Criticized

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found deficiencies in the administration’s website that provides information on waivers of Buy American laws in a December 2023 report. In Opportunities Exist to Improve the Reporting of Waivers to

Biden Vetoes Congressional Rejection of Buy America Waiver

President Biden has vetoed a joint resolution of Congress that was aimed at blocking a Buy America waiver for electric vehicle (EV) chargers, issued by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The president’s support of a

Challenges in Implementing Domestic Preferences

This post explores the challenges in implementing the broad domestic preference mandate in the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act. This mandate has created challenges for entities undertaking infrastructure projects with federal funds, notably the

White House Guidance on “Buy America” for Infrastructure Projects

Four weeks before the implementation of a broad “Buy America” requirement for infrastructure projects, the White House issued guidance to federal agencies. The “Buy America” provision will apply to all infrastructure projects that receive federal

Senate Infrastructure Package: “Buy America”

On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed an infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorizes $1 trillion in spending on a broad range of infrastructure projects. Its 69-30 vote was “overwhelmingly bipartisan.” The

White House Begins to Implement Made in America Order

The White House issued initial guidance to implement President Biden’s Made in America order, focusing on increasing opportunities for domestic sourcing and reducing the need for waivers of Made in America laws. It calls for a phased-in