Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act
The Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act would bar the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using funds to procure batteries produced by a specified list of foreign entities beginning October 1, 2027. The prohibitions target batteries associated with major Chinese battery manufacturers and related entities, including companies like CATL and BYD, as well as any entity on certain anti-forced-labor or defense-related lists, and subsidiaries of these entities. A battery is treated as produced by a covered entity if that entity assembles the final product or provides a majority of the components. The Act also creates waivers and requires reporting on the law’s anticipated impacts across DHS components, signaling a shift toward reducing reliance on foreign-sourced batteries for DHS operations. The bill has passed the House and is being considered in the Senate (status shown as introduced and referred to committee).
Key Points
- 1Prohibition and effective date: Beginning October 1, 2027, DHS funds may not be obligated to procure batteries produced by entities listed in the bill.
- 2Entities covered: Includes major Chinese battery firms (e.g., CATL, BYD, Envision Energy, EVE, Gotion High-Tech, Hithium), any entity on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act lists, entities designated as Chinese military companies under NDAA, entities listed in specific CFR supplement, and subsidiaries or successors of these entities.
- 3Production standard: A battery is considered produced by a listed entity if the entity assembles the final battery or provides a majority of the components.
- 4Waivers: DHS can waive the restriction if:
- 5- A) Batteries pose no national security, data, or infrastructure risk and there are no suitable non-listed alternatives with similar or better cost/quality, or
- 6- B) The batteries are for research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis.
- 7Reporting requirement: Within 180 days of enactment, DHS must report to Congress on anticipated mission and cost impacts of implementing the prohibition across DHS components (e.g., CBP, ICE, Secret Service, TSA, Coast Guard, FPS, FEMA, LTS, CISA).