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119-s-5598119th Congress

Blocking Foreign Cellular Modules in Defense Systems Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Banks, Jim [R-IN]

Introduced

Summary

Identify and mitigate risky foreign-controlled cellular modules in DoD systems. The bill creates a Department of Defense program to locate covered cellular modules in defense hardware and require audits, mitigation plans, and regular reports to Congress.

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  • For Department of Defense systems and installations: Requires an audit within 180 days to find covered cellular modules across military departments, combatant commands, defense agencies, and contractor-operated systems that connect to DoD networks. The audit must, where possible, list manufacturer, model, firmware, host product, and assess cybersecurity risks for priority assets like mobility, logistics, and installation security.
  • For contractors and the supply chain: Directs mitigation options such as rip-and-replace programs, accelerated retirement of legacy gear, network segmentation, firmware or software fixes, and substitution with trusted suppliers. Reports must include cost estimates, timelines, and resource needs for each option.
  • For congressional oversight and accountability: The Secretary must report within 1 year and then biennially for up to 6 years with unclassified findings and an optional classified annex. The Comptroller General must issue a review within 180 days after the first report.

*The bill focuses DoD on locating, assessing, and reducing reliance on high-risk cellular modules and requires detailed mitigation reporting to Congress.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

DoD audit of foreign cellular modules

If enacted, the bill would require the Department of Defense to begin a department-wide audit of covered cellular modules within 180 days. The audit would cover all military departments, combatant commands, defense agencies, and contractor-run systems that connect to DoD networks. To the maximum extent practicable, it would identify each module's maker, model, firmware, host product, and assess data flows, network exposure, and remote-access risks. The Secretary would report to the congressional defense committees within 1 year and then every two years for up to six years, with cost estimates and mitigation plans; each report would be unclassified and may include a classified annex. The Comptroller General would report on implementation not later than 180 days after the Secretary's report. The bill would also define "covered cellular module" to include modules listed under section 889, modules tied to entities controlled by the People's Republic of China, or any supplier the Secretary finds to present an unacceptable supply-chain risk.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Banks, Jim [R-IN]

IN • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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