AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/2130
Last Updated: March 31, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

ID: R000618

Follow the money

The bill

AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025

S. 2130, 119th Congress — read as touching Defense Contractors.

The sponsor

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$87,634 raised

26 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

95% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Defense" section, p. 134-136 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 235.

October 29, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

✅

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 is a cleverly crafted bill that claims to "improve" the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to grease the wheels for more lucrative arms deals and bolster the military-industrial complex.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill makes two primary changes:

1. **Exemption from Certain Requirements:** Section 2 of the bill creates an exemption for defense articles sold under this act, allowing them to be reexported, retransferred, or temporarily imported between Australia, the United Kingdom, and eligible entities without requiring presidential consent. 2. **Elimination of Certification Requirement:** Section 3 eliminates the certification requirement for commercial technical assistance or manufacturing license agreements involving Australia and the United Kingdom.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved:

* The defense industry ( Lockheed Martin, Boeing, etc.) will reap the benefits of increased arms sales. * The governments of Australia and the United Kingdom will gain easier access to US-made defense articles. * Congressional sponsors and their donors will enjoy a nice return on investment.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a symptom of a deeper disease – the insatiable hunger for military spending and the revolving door between government and industry. By streamlining arms exports, this act will:

* Increase the risk of proliferation and misuse of sensitive technologies. * Further entrench the US in a cycle of militarism and interventionism. * Enrich defense contractors at the expense of taxpayers.

In conclusion, the AUKUS Improvement Act is a masterclass in legislative doublespeak. It's a bill that claims to promote cooperation but actually serves the interests of the military-industrial complex. As with most congressional bills, it's a case of "follow the money" – and the money leads straight to the pockets of defense contractors and their cronies on Capitol Hill.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this farce unfold.

Related Topics

Defense Spending & Procurement
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$87,634
22 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$6,734
Committees
$0
Individuals
$80,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SPIKE OCOTILLO LLC
1 transaction
$2,500
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
1 transaction
$1,000
3
KING & SPALDING LLP
1 transaction
$1,000
4
GREENBERG TRAURIG
1 transaction
$1,000
5
H.A. TRUE, III
1 transaction
$1,000
6
DELTA AIRLINES
1 transaction
$234

No committee contributions found

1
VANDERSLOOT, BELINDA
1 transaction
$6,600
2
VANDERSLOOT, FRANK
1 transaction
$6,600
3
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
1 transaction
$6,600
4
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
1 transaction
$6,600
5
CASSLING, ELIZABETH
2 transactions
$6,600
6
CASSLING, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$6,600
7
SINGER, PAUL
2 transactions
$6,600
8
BECKER, AMY
2 transactions
$6,600
9
DESTEFANO, JOHN
1 transaction
$5,000
10
BARTLETT, BRUCE
1 transaction
$3,300
11
BETTGER, RICHARD
1 transaction
$3,300
12
CASTELLINI, ROBERT
1 transaction
$3,300
13
DAVIS, ASHLEY
1 transaction
$3,300
14
BALDWIN, JACK
1 transaction
$3,300
15
BAYER, MATT
1 transaction
$3,300
16
BECKER, TODD
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

ID: K000384

Top Contributors

10

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,300
Jun 18, 2024
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 26, 2023
3
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$1,000
Jun 18, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 25, 2024
5
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 18, 2024
6
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$1,000
Oct 15, 2024
7
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Dec 29, 2023
8
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$600
Oct 25, 2023
9
STONEHALL FARM
OrganizationTHE PLAINS, VA
$500
Jun 30, 2024
10
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$400
Oct 25, 2023

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

ID: C001056

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$47
Jul 10, 2024
2
WEEKLEY, RICHARD W
WEEKLEY PROPERTIES • REAL ESTATE BROKER/DEVELOPER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$100,000
Dec 27, 2023
3
MCINGVALE, JAMES F
GALLERY FURNITURE • OWNER/OPERATOR
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$50,000
Feb 27, 2023
4
MCINGVALE, LINDA
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$50,000
Feb 27, 2023
5
DUNN, TIMOTHY
CROWN QUEST OPERATING • EXECUTIVE
IndividualMIDLAND, TX
$45,000
Apr 4, 2023
6
MARTIN, KIMBERLY R
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$20,000
Mar 13, 2023
7
BLAINE, JAY C.
N/A • N/A
IndividualROCKWALL, TX
$16,478
Oct 11, 2024
8
THOMPSON, JERE W. MR. JR.
AMBIT ENERGY • CEO
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$13,200
Mar 15, 2023
9
MIDDLETON, MAYES
MIDDLETON OIL CO • OIL AND GAS
IndividualGALVESTON, TX
$12,500
Jan 7, 2023
10
MIDDLETON, MACEY
IndividualGALVESTON, TX
$12,500
Jan 7, 2023

Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

ID: C001088

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,700
Dec 27, 2023
3
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
4
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP • ATTORNEY
IndividualPACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
5
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
6
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN • CEO
IndividualLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
7
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES • CEO
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
8
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN • CEO
IndividualLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
9
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES • CEO
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
10
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP • ATTORNEY
IndividualPACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024

Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

ID: F000463

Top Contributors

10

1
REPUBLICAN MAIN STREET PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,000
Jun 19, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
3
MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$2,500
Nov 1, 2024
4
JTM CONSULTING LLC
OrganizationSAN ANTONIO, TX
$1,000
Mar 17, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 7, 2023
6
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Apr 29, 2024
7
ERROTABERE RANCHES
OrganizationRIVERDALE, CA
$500
May 10, 2024
8
BRAUER, BLACKFORD
HUNTER ENGINEERING • PRESIDENT
IndividualBRIDGETON, MO
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
9
ERGEN, CANTEY
DISH NETWORK • SENIOR ADVISOR
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023
10
ERGEN, CHARLES
DISH NETWORK • CHAIRMAN
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$6,600
Dec 31, 2023

Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

ID: M001169

Top Contributors

10

1
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION
OrganizationMASHANTUCKET, CT
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
2
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
OrganizationTAMA, IA
$2,500
Nov 5, 2024
3
MOHEGAN TRIBE OF INDIANS OF CONNECTICUT
OrganizationUNCASVILLE, CT
$2,000
Mar 30, 2023
4
MORRILL, WILLIAM
NOT EMPLOYED • RETIRED
IndividualSALISBURY, CT
$13,200
Feb 15, 2023
5
REIMERS, LINDSAY
NONE • NONE
IndividualDENVER, CO
$13,200
Feb 27, 2023
6
COGUT, ELLEN FAYE
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualSOUTH KENT, CT
$10,200
Feb 15, 2023
7
CANFIELD, JOHN
BLUEARC.AI • COFOUNDER & CEO
IndividualSAN CARLOS, CA
$6,600
Oct 30, 2023
8
GATES III, WILLIAM H.
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION • PHILANTHROPIST
IndividualREDMOND, WA
$6,600
Oct 19, 2023
9
GUFF, ANDREW
SIGULER GUFF & COMPANY LP • INVESTOR
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Nov 21, 2023
10
HABER, WILLIAM
SAVE THE CHILDREN • RETIRED
IndividualWESTPORT, CT
$6,600
Oct 11, 2023

Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

ID: S001217

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

ID: S001198

Top Contributors

10

1
SEND IN THE SEAL PAC
PACALEXANDRIA, VA
$45,000
Aug 9, 2024
2
THE LINCOLN CLUB OF ORANGE COUNTY FEDERAL PAC
PACNEWPORT BEACH, CA
$25,000
Oct 18, 2024
3
SEND IN THE SEAL PAC
PACALEXANDRIA, VA
$15,000
Aug 9, 2024
4
WINRED
PACARLINGTON, VA
$6,600
Oct 19, 2023
5
RON JOHNSON VICTORY
COMOSHKOSH, WI
$1,997
Sep 30, 2024
6
MACLEAN-FOGG COMPANY
OrganizationMUNDELEIN, IL
$58,700
Dec 28, 2023
7
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$41,300
Dec 29, 2023
8
MACLEAN-FOGG COMPANY
OrganizationMUNDELEIN, IL
$41,300
Dec 28, 2023
9
PASCUA YAQUI TRIBE
OrganizationTUCSON, AZ
$41,300
Dec 29, 2023
10
TIGUA INDIAN RESERVATION
OrganizationEL PASO, TX
$41,300
Dec 19, 2023

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

ID: E000295

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
OrganizationTAMA, IA
$5,000
Aug 29, 2023
2
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
OrganizationTAMA, IA
$1,700
Sep 28, 2023
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
May 21, 2024
4
ABEL, ANDREA MS.
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
IndividualDES MOINES, IA
$50,000
Feb 7, 2023
5
MCINERNEY, THOMAS E. MR.
BLUFF POINT ASSOC. CORPORATION • VENTURE INVESTOR
IndividualWESTPORT, CT
$50,000
Feb 22, 2023
6
NICOLLS, BOB MR.
MONARCH • REAL ESTATE
IndividualFRANKTOWN, CO
$25,000
Mar 17, 2023
7
GRAY, C. BOYDEN
SELF-EMPLOYED • ATTORNEY
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$25,000
Mar 29, 2023
8
CATSIMATIDIS, JOHN A. MR.
UNITED REFINING COMPANY • CHARIMAN & CEO
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$25,000
May 16, 2023
9
KOTICK, ROBERT MR.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD • CEO
IndividualSANTA MONICA, CA
$16,600
Dec 20, 2024
10
VINCZE, CHRISTOPHER
TRC COMPANIES INC. • CHAIRMAN AND CEO
IndividualTEQUESTA, FL
$15,800
Nov 6, 2023

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

ID: B001267

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Oct 18, 2024
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Jun 21, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 30, 2024
4
QUILLER GALLERY LLC
OrganizationCREEDE, CO
$250
Nov 20, 2023
5
BARRON, THOMAS A
SELF EMPLOYED • AUTHOR
IndividualBOULDER, CO
$5,000
Sep 18, 2023
6
WALLINGER, DANIELLE
STUDIO D DESIGN • CEO
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$5,000
Oct 15, 2024
7
WALLINGER, DIRK
YORK SPACE SYSTEMS • CEO
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$5,000
Oct 15, 2024
8
LEPRINO, TERRY LYNN
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualDENVER, CO
$3,300
Dec 3, 2024
9
SIE, JOHN J.
NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualENGLEWOOD, CO
$3,300
Dec 3, 2024
10
HEGYI, ALBERT
1ST FINANCIAL • BANKER
IndividualSOUTHPORT, CT
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023

Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

ID: R000608

Top Contributors

10

1
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationTACOMA, WA
$3,700
Jul 31, 2024
2
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
OrganizationHOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
3
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
4
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 28, 2023
5
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 10, 2023
6
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 10, 2023
7
SYUCAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
8
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Mar 28, 2024
9
SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA
OrganizationHOLLYWOOD, FL
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
10
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationSHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 61 nodes and 41 connections (58 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $266,881

Top Donors - Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

Showing top 22 donors by contribution amount

6 Orgs16 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.

  • +Defense Contractorsconfidence 0.95

    Section 2 provides exemptions from certain arms export control requirements for defense articles sold by the United States to Australia and the United Kingdom, facilitating reexport, retransfer, and temporary import between these governments and eligible entities. Section 3 eliminates certification requirements for commercial technical assistance or manufacturing license agreements involving Australia and the United Kingdom. These provisions reduce regulatory barriers and streamline defense trad

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Defense

Very Strong
Vector: 58%
Pages: 134-136AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The AUKUS Improvement Act directly implements multiple Project 2025 DoD objectives by streamlining arms export controls, eliminating certification requirements, enabling intra-company transfers, and reducing bureaucratic delays—all aimed at enhancing defense cooperation with allies like the UK and Australia and improving the efficiency of foreign military sales."

Key themes:export control reformally cooperationdefense industrial baseFMS process efficiencyITAR reduction

— 101 — Department of Defense 1. Ensure that senior U.S. military leadership emphasizes exportability in the initial development of defense systems that are both available and interoperable with our partners and allies. 2. Create a funding mechanism to incentivize exportability in initial planning, which can be recouped after future FMS transactions. l End informal congressional notification. Informal congressional notification or “tiered review” is a hinderance to ensuring timely sales to our global partners. The tiered review process is not codified in law; it is merely a practice by which the Department of State provides a preview of prospective arms transfers before Congress is formally notified.9 1. End the tiered review process to eliminate at least 20 days from the FMS process. 2. Use the tiered review process only when unanimous congressional support is guaranteed in order to eliminate the “weaponization” by select Members of Congress that has prevented billions of dollars of arms sales from moving into formal congressional notification. l Minimize barriers to collaboration. The high cost of developing advanced defense platforms requires the United States to collaborate with key allies to minimize waste, complement strengths, and supplement our defense industrial base to create a system that is greater than that of the United States alone. 1. Enhance defense industrial base planning with partners to allow them to focus on niche areas where there are cost advantages for the United States. 2. Decrease International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to facilitate trade with such allies as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. 3. Create opportunities to improve the health of the defense supply chain with added opportunities for partners and allies to contribute. l Reform the FMS contracting process. The contracting timeline for the FMS process is shockingly slow. On average, the DOD contracting timeline takes approximately 18 months because of slow bureaucratic processes and chronic understaffing.10 — 102 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise 1. Immediately fund more contracting capacity in all services to decrease the contracting timeline and improve the delivery of defense articles to our global partners. 2. Rationalize and speed arms sales decision-making to preclude our enemies from exploiting bureaucratic slothfulness and allow us to manage the development of indigenous defense industrial bases. DOD PERSONNEL The men and women of America’s armed forces are the most critical component of our national defense strategy, but in recent years, they have been overextended, undervalued, and insufficiently resourced. Their families help them to carry the burden of service, but the assistance they receive is disproportionately less than the sacrifices they make. Young civilians who would thrive in a military environ- ment are disenfranchised when educators and influencers discourage them from learning about military service and preparing for the honor of wearing Ameri- ca’s uniform. The United States military is an extraordinary institution, staffed by exceptional people who have defended our nation and changed the course of history, but the Biden Administration, through word and deed, has treated the armed forces as just another place to work. We must restore our military to a place of honor and respect and recruit and retain the individuals who will meet the rigorous standards of excellence that are required for membership in the world’s greatest fighting force. Needed Reforms l Rescue recruiting and retention. Recruiting was the worst in 2022 that it has been in two generations and is expected to be even worse in 2023. Some of the problems are self-inflicted and ongoing. The recruiting problem is not service-specific: It affects the entire Joint Force. 1. Appoint a Special Assistant to the President who will maintain liaison with Congress, DOD, and all other interested parties on the issue of recruiting and retention. 2. Improve recruiting by suspending the use of the recently introduced MHS Genesis system that uses private medical records of potential recruits at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), creating unnecessary delays and unwarranted rejections.11 3. Improve military recruiters’ access to secondary schools and require completion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery

Department of Defense

Strong
Vector: 60%
Pages: 134-136AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The AUKUS Improvement Act directly reduces arms export control barriers for Australia and the UK, streamlining intra-company transfers and licensing processes, which aligns with Project 2025's goals of decreasing ITAR, minimizing collaboration barriers, and enhancing defense industrial base planning with allies."

Key themes:ITAR reductiondefense industrial base collaborationstreamlined export controlsintra-company transfersarms export facilitation

— 101 — Department of Defense 1. Ensure that senior U.S. military leadership emphasizes exportability in the initial development of defense systems that are both available and interoperable with our partners and allies. 2. Create a funding mechanism to incentivize exportability in initial planning, which can be recouped after future FMS transactions. l End informal congressional notification. Informal congressional notification or “tiered review” is a hinderance to ensuring timely sales to our global partners. The tiered review process is not codified in law; it is merely a practice by which the Department of State provides a preview of prospective arms transfers before Congress is formally notified.9 1. End the tiered review process to eliminate at least 20 days from the FMS process. 2. Use the tiered review process only when unanimous congressional support is guaranteed in order to eliminate the “weaponization” by select Members of Congress that has prevented billions of dollars of arms sales from moving into formal congressional notification. l Minimize barriers to collaboration. The high cost of developing advanced defense platforms requires the United States to collaborate with key allies to minimize waste, complement strengths, and supplement our defense industrial base to create a system that is greater than that of the United States alone. 1. Enhance defense industrial base planning with partners to allow them to focus on niche areas where there are cost advantages for the United States. 2. Decrease International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to facilitate trade with such allies as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. 3. Create opportunities to improve the health of the defense supply chain with added opportunities for partners and allies to contribute. l Reform the FMS contracting process. The contracting timeline for the FMS process is shockingly slow. On average, the DOD contracting timeline takes approximately 18 months because of slow bureaucratic processes and chronic understaffing.10

Department of Commerce

Weak
Vector: 61%
Pages: 705-707AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill focuses on streamlining arms export controls for AUKUS partners to enhance defense cooperation, while Project 2025 emphasizes tightening export controls on emerging technologies to counter national security threats from countries like China and Russia. The bill's deregulatory approach contrasts with Project 2025's call for stricter oversight, resulting in weak thematic alignment."

Key themes:export controlsnational securitytechnology transferdefense cooperation

— 672 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise regulate exports of emerging and foundational technologies. Although the scope of such technologies is vast, to date BIS has only controlled just over 40 of these technologies. This does not meet the clear statutory intent of Congress that ECRA be leveraged to ensure that the United States maintains a technological advantage in technologies bearing upon national security interests. Currently, BIS self-identifies technologies that merit control under the EAR with minimal input from other federal agencies. This mechanism should be improved. BIS should create an open, transparent rulemaking process by which any industry participant, private entity, or branch of the government may, at any time, submit nominations for emerging/foundational technologies for control. Then, on a quarterly basis, BIS should make public such recommendations (while holding the identity of the submitter confidential) for public input, followed by an explanation about its ultimate decision to control or not control the items, its reasons, the level of controls applied (stringent or permissive), and the relevant Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) under the Commerce Control List. Commerce should also institute a mechanism whereby its decisions can be challenged, including on a confidential basis. Licensing Procedures: Adjudication and Transparency. Currently, if the Departments of Defense, State, Commerce, and Energy disagree on an export license decision, the disagreement may be escalated to the Operating Commit- tee—and subsequently to the Advisory Committee on Export Policy led by BIS’s Assistant Secretary for Export Administration. The Assistant Secretary does not need to lead the dispute resolution, and this process should be revised by giving lead authority to BIS’s Under Secretary, who is better able to account for diverging views. Moreover, BIS’s authority to overrule other agency votes should be changed. Each agency should have one equal vote and, if a licensing dispute remains unre- solved, the final decision should be elevated to the National Security Advisor and the Secretaries of Defense, State, Commerce, and Energy. Additionally, to improve congressional oversight of BIS’s license adjudication process, BIS should provide specific congressional committees with data from the Automated Export System on a quarterly basis. Electronic files should contain U.S. exporter by name; product description (e.g., harmonized system code and ECCN/U. S. Munitions List designation); end user and destination country; and when a license was required, whether the license was granted or denied. BIS cur- rently denies just 1.2 percent of export licenses. These data reporting requirements can help Congress better determine whether BIS is adequately protecting national security through appropriate use of export controls or whether additional direction from Congress is required. Improve End-Use Checks. The integrity of the export control system may be validated only through adequate end-use checks. BIS must deny export licenses to countries that do not permit adequate end-use checks (e.g., China/Russia) by U.S. authorities. BIS should also strengthen the forensic audit capabilities of its — 673 — Department of Commerce Export Enforcement officers through improved and frequent training so they are able to detect export-control violations. EAR Revisions. The U.S. Government needs a new export control moderniza- tion effort to tighten the EAR policies governing licenses to countries of concern, including China and Russia (specifically, revise and/or reverse the 2008 through 2016 policies). When authoritarian governments explain what they plan to do, believe them unless hard evidence demonstrates otherwise. Case in point: China’s and Russia’s stated civil–military fusion policies demand central government command-and-control style systems in which every private entity serves the interests of the state and is forced to provide technology, services, capacity, and data to the central govern- ment and the military. Through this structure, commercial activities are routinely weaponized by authoritarian regimes that repeatedly identify the U.S. as an enemy. Accordingly, U.S. export control policies must be updated to reflect these realities and the associated threats to national security. Key priorities for EAR modernization for countries of concern should be: l Eliminating the “specially designed” licensing loophole; l Redesignating China and Russia to more highly prohibitive export licensing groups (country groups D or E); l Eliminating license exceptions; l Broadening foreign direct product rules; l Reducing the de minimis threshold from 25 percent to 10 percent—or 0 percent for critical technologies; l Tightening the deemed export rules to prevent technology transfer to foreign nationals from countries of concern; l Tightening the definition of “fundamental research” to address exploitation of the open U.S. university system by authoritarian governments through funding, students and researchers, and recruitment; l Eliminating license exceptions for sharing technology with controlled entities/countries through standards-setting “activities” and bodies; and l Improving regulations regarding published information for technology transfers.

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