Published: July 2, 2026
The U.S. Department of Defense released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to implement 10 U.S.C. § 4873, a statute set to launch January 1, 2027. The rule prohibits federal defense contractors from purchasing network-connected, mission-critical printed circuit boards fabricated in four restricted regions. A mandatory third-party geographic certification and full manufacturing traceability system will be rolled out for all defense-grade PCB components. The policy targets circuit boards used in radar, encrypted communications and missile guidance hardware, reshaping upstream raw material sourcing and third-party testing standards for the global defense electronics supply chain.