Defense Industrial Base: Actions Needed to Address Risks Posed by Dependence on Foreign Suppliers

The Department of Defense is sounding the alarm on a growing risk: its deep reliance on foreign suppliers for key materials and components. With over 200,000 suppliers in its vast procurement network, DOD lacks visibility into where most items are actually produced—especially those deep in the supply chain. Efforts like SCREEn and DIBMAP are underway, but progress is slow and fragmented. Without stronger coordination and possibly new contract requirements, the U.S. defense supply chain remains vulnerable to foreign disruption.