Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act
Key claim: The bill bars DHS from using appropriated funds to buy batteries from six specified China-based companies beginning October 1, 2027, with national-security and research waivers and congressional notification/reporting requirements.
Abstract
(HR1166 · 119th Congress) Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using appropriated funds to procure a battery produced by certain entities, particularly six specific companies owned and operated in China. This prohibition begins on October 1, 2027. The bill allows DHS to waive the prohibition if DHS assesses in the affirmative that (1) the batteries to be procured do not pose a risk to U.S. national security, data, or infrastructure; and (2) there is no available alternative to procure batteries that are of similar or better cost and quality and that are produced by an entity not specified in this bill. DHS may also waive the prohibition upon a determination that the batteries to be procured are for the sole purpose of research, evaluation, training, testing, or analysis. The bill requires DHS to notify Congress within 15 days after granting a waiver under this bill. The bill also requires DHS to report to Congress on the anticipated impacts associated with carrying out this bill, including with respect to specified agencies of DHS. Latest action (2025-03-11): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Why this matters
The bill extends the familiar ‘named foreign-adversary entity’ procurement-ban model (previously applied to telecom, drones, and semiconductors) to batteries purchased by DHS, signaling continued sub-sector-by-sub-sector decoupling from Chinese suppliers. Effects are concentrated on federal-procurement pathways rather than commercial imports or consumer prices, but the 2027 effective date gives DHS lead time to qualify alternative vendors and could accelerate domestic and allied battery-supply investment.