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S 4648

A bill to improve transparency with respect to foreign influence on Department of Defense contractors.

119th Congress Introduced by Chuck Grassley and 1 co-sponsor

The bill aims to reveal and constrain foreign ownership or influence over DoD contractors to strengthen national security and supply chain transparency.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4648

Summary of Bill: S. 4648 (119th Congress) – A bill to improve transparency with respect to foreign influence on Department of Defense contractors

Overview

S. 4648 is a proposed United States Senate bill introduced in the 119th Congress with the aim of enhancing transparency around foreign influence on contractors that work with the Department of Defense (DoD). The legislation seeks to identify and disclose risks related to foreign entities having influence or control over defense contracting activities, thereby strengthening national security and safeguarding supply chain integrity.

Purpose and intent

  • Improve transparency regarding foreign influence in DoD contracting.
  • Identify potential foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) concerns affecting defense contractors.
  • Provide mechanisms for disclosure, oversight, and risk assessment to mitigate security vulnerabilities associated with foreign involvement.
  • Enhance accountability for contractors and streamline the sharing of information related to foreign influence with relevant government agencies.

Key provisions and changes (as anticipated from the title and scope)

While the full text is not provided here, the bill’s stated purpose suggests several possible provisions common to similar transparency-focused measures:
- Definitions of terms related to foreign influence, including foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) over DoD contractors.
- Mandatory disclosures or periodic reporting requirements for contractors to disclose foreign ties, ownership stakes, or influence over program decisions.
- Requirements for DoD and/or other federal agencies to assess and publicly or semi-publicly report on foreign influence risks within major defense supply chains.
- Enhanced due diligence and security screening processes for contractors with substantial foreign involvement.
- Procedures for designation of high-risk contractors and potential restrictions, mitigation plans, or remediation requirements.
- Coordination with other federal security and export-control regimes (e.g., CFIUS-related considerations, export controls, or security clearances).
- Possible penalties or enforcement mechanisms for noncompliance, including consequences for false or incomplete disclosures.
- Reporting on the effectiveness of transparency measures to Congress, including metrics, timelines, and expected reductions in risk.

Who would be affected

  • DoD contractors and subcontractors with any level of foreign ownership, control, or influence.
  • Corporate officers, board members, and beneficial owners of defense contractors required to disclose foreign ties.
  • DoD and other federal agencies involved in contractor oversight, security clearances, export controls, and supply chain risk management.
  • Potentially, foreign entities invested in or seeking influence over U.S. defense programs, to the extent disclosures pertain to ownership or control.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Action history shows: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services on June 1, 2026; introduced in the Senate on the same date.
  • Next steps typically include committee hearings, markups, and potential amendments before floor consideration. If enacted, the bill would become law following passage by both Senate and House and presidential signature (or veto-overrides where applicable).
  • Depending on the bill’s final text, there could be phased compliance timelines for contractors (e.g., initial reporting within a set number of days after enactment, with ongoing annual or biennial requirements).

Potential impact and considerations

  • Enhanced visibility into foreign involvement in defense contracting, enabling risk-based decision making and improved national security posture.
  • Potential administrative and compliance burden on contractors, particularly for mid-sized firms with foreign investments or complex ownership structures.
  • Improved DoD oversight and transparency regarding supply chain security, potentially influencing procurement decisions and foreign investment screening.
  • May interact with existing security clearance, export control, and national security review frameworks.

Note: This summary is based on the bill’s title and stated aim. The precise, legally operative provisions (definitions, reporting thresholds, timelines, penalties, and enforcement) would be specified in the full text of S. 4648.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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