US Congress Proposes Initiative to Boost Domestic Defense Industrial Base

Rep. Ken Calvert proposes an initiative to maximize American manufacturing capacity in the US, as part of the upcoming fiscal year 2026 Defense Appropriations bill and FY26 National Defense Authorization Act. The Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) aims to establish a certification and qualification process for domestic commercial companies to manufacture components, weapons, and equipment. This effort is seen as crucial to boosting the US defense industrial base and improving its ability to compete with China, which has been accused of outproducing the US on a massive scale.