President Trump said Sunday that all federal agencies must purchase American-made products—“no excuses” permitted—as he looks to eliminate loopholes that have historically allowed the government to buy foreign goods when domestic alternatives are unavailable, too costly or don’t reach specific thresholds.
“ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES MUST BUY AMERICAN—NO EXCUSES!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “For decades, Washington politicians sent your Taxpayer Dollars overseas, and let Foreign Countries rip us off while our Workers, Factories and Supply Chains were left behind. That betrayal is OVER.”
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Chief among the laws governing domestic procurement is the 1933 Buy American Act, which decrees that federal agencies prioritize “domestic end products” and “construction materials” for stateside projects. Under current regulations, a product is defined as domestic if it’s manufactured in the United States and at least 65 percent of its component costs are American in origin.
The Berry Amendment, enacted in 1941, imposes even tougher requirements on the Department of Defense, stipulating nearly 100 percent domestic sourcing for essential categories such as food, clothing and specialty metals. A version for the Department of Homeland Security exists as the Kissell Amendment, a 2009 law mandating that uniforms for the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard be domestically produced.
Despite these rules, a series of regulatory exceptions has allowed federal agencies to bypass the requirements under specific conditions. Under the Buy American Act, for instance, procurement officers can grant waivers if a domestic product is deemed “unreasonably” expensive, often defined as being at least 20-30 percent costlier than foreign-made versions. Both the Berry and Kissell Amendments also allow for “emergency” exceptions during combat operations or for items under $150,000.
Agencies also frequently use “non-availability” determinations that permit the purchase of foreign goods if the domestic industry isn’t able to produce enough of the necessary materials in sufficient quantity or quality.
All that may soon come to an end, as the commander-in-chief appears to be taking a harder line on overseas sourcing.
“My Administration is strengthening MADE IN AMERICA Laws, ENDING Waiver Loopholes and STOPPING the Federal Government from buying Foreign Products when Great American Products are available—And to the D.C. Bureaucrats: NO MORE handing out Waivers like candy!” Trump wrote. “No more rubber-stamping exceptions for Foreign Products while American Workers get shafted.”
The president’s comments come as his administration has directed the Federal Trade Commission to tighten policing of companies making false or unsubstantiated “Made in U.S.A.” claims. Already, the March executive order has resulted in an enforcement sweep targeting manufacturers of footwear, flags and electronics for failing to meet labeling rules requiring “all or virtually all” American-made content.
“We are putting American Workers, American Factories and American Supply Chains FIRST—Bigger, better and stronger than ever before!” Trump said. “I already signed EO 14392 to crack down on fake ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ claims, and we are enforcing it HARD. No more games. No more fake labels. No more ripping off the American Taxpayer. AMERICA FIRST means BUY AMERICAN!”
