Biden-Harris Administration Launches Supply Chain Resilience Center to Safeguard U.S. Supply Chains

In a move intended to fortify the nation's supply chains against evolving threats, the Biden-Harris Administration has introduced the Supply Chain Resilience Center (SCRC). Unveiled during the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, this new government entity aims to collaborate with the private sector to enhance the security of U.S. supply chains.

President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas disclosed the SCRC, designed to analyze vulnerabilities and conduct scenario planning with private sector stakeholders. The goal is to mitigate disruptions, ensure the reliable and efficient delivery of goods and services, and lower costs for the American people. The SCRC is a crucial component of the administration's efforts to address challenges highlighted by the global pandemic and fortify the resilience of critical supply chains.

Secretary Mayorkas emphasized the importance of securing critical infrastructure to stay competitive in the 21st-century economy. The SCRC will play a key role in anticipating and mitigating disruptions caused by conflicts, political instability, climate change, and other potential threats.

Key initiatives of the SCRC at launch include:

1. Security Vulnerabilities at U.S. Seaports: The SCRC will identify vulnerabilities at U.S. seaports and collaborate with stakeholders to develop actionable solutions. This includes evaluating risks posed by adversarial nation-state threats, untrustworthy equipment, data extraction, insider risks, and unvetted access. The focus is on enhancing public-private collaboration to address port security vulnerabilities.
2. Semiconductor Supply Chain Security: In collaboration with the Department of Commerce and the private sector, efforts will be launched to secure the semiconductor supply chain, strengthen resilience, and support the implementation of the CHIPS Act.
3. Strategic Infrastructure Resilience: The SCRC will partner with industry to ensure strategically valuable infrastructure owners and operators can provide essential goods and services to the American people during disruptions or shortages.
4. Table-Top Exercises: The center plans to host at least two table-top exercises in 2024 to test the resiliency of critical cross-border supply chains, involving U.S. federal agencies, foreign governments, and industry partners.

Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers highlighted the SCRC's role in bringing government and industry together to address challenges collaboratively. The center's mission is to enhance preparedness and coordination to ensure a secure, resilient, and efficient supply chain.

In the coming weeks, Secretary Mayorkas will engage with representatives from port operations, cargo logistics industries, importers, and exporters to gather feedback on the SCRC's work and explore ways to better serve businesses.

The SCRC will operate within the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, reporting to Under Secretary Robert Silvers and Acting Assistant Secretary Christa Brzozowski. It will comprise personnel from various DHS agencies with supply chain expertise and close engagement with industry stakeholders.

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