President Biden signed an executive order that directs federal agencies to purchase U.S-made products and services as part of efforts to support U.S. businesses, manufacturers and workers and strengthen the enforcement of Buy American laws.
The EO orders a centralized evaluation of agency waivers of Buy American provisions and requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to post waivers on a public website, the White House said Monday.
“This Executive Order fulfills President Biden’s promise to make Buy American real and close loopholes that allow companies to offshore production and jobs while still qualifying for domestic preferences,” the document reads.
The policy creates a new position – director of Made-in-America – at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to oversee the EO’s implementation, orders an increase in the domestic content threshold and directs agencies to use the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to establish connections with domestic suppliers.
Agencies should also submit reports on how they implement Made in America laws and offer recommendations for achieving the administration’s objectives related to such regulations.