National Security Implications of Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
American national security depends upon supply chain integrity. In today’s world, America’s adversaries often advance their goals by exploiting technological weaknesses, engaging in a range of malicious cyber activities targeted at U.S. government agencies and critical industries. Insufficient protection against the possibility of devastating cyberattacks—against the American electrical grid or command-and-control communications systems during a crisis—could have disastrous consequences for society. Last year’s John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act banned government use of certain products from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE. But the U.S. government should not assume these firms are the only foreign companies that pose a risk to American national security. The topic of supply chain security has never been more timely and relevant, as evidenced by the recent executive order aimed at protecting the supply chain for information and communication technology and the ongoing markup of the 2020 NDAA. Come join R Street as we discuss why supply chain integrity matters and how to approach it on a national level.
Panelists
Kathryn Waldron
Research Associate, R Street Institute (Introduction)
Ian Wallace
Senior Fellow, New America
Caleb Orr
U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Robert Mayer
Senior Vice President of Cybersecurity, USTelecom
Paul Rosenzweig
Senior Fellow, R Street Institute (Moderator)
