50 U.S.C. § 4533 (WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE)
§ 4533. Other presidential action authorized
(a) In general
(1) In general
To create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic industrial base capabilities essential for the national defense, the President may make provision—
(A) for purchases of or commitments to purchase an industrial resource or a critical technology item, for Government use or resale;
(B) for the encouragement of exploration, development, and mining of critical and strategic materials, and other materials;
(C) for the development of production capabilities; and
(D) for the increased use of emerging technologies in security program applications and the rapid transition of emerging technologies—
(i) from Government-sponsored research and development to commercial applications; and
(ii) from commercial research and development to national defense applications.
(2) Treatment of certain agricultural commodities
A purchase for resale under this subsection shall not include that part of the supply of an agricultural commodity which is domestically produced, except to the extent that such domestically produced supply may be purchased for resale for industrial use or stockpiling.
(3) Terms of sales
No commodity purchased under this subsection shall be sold at less than—
(A) the established ceiling price for such commodity, except that minerals, metals, and materials shall not be sold at less than the established ceiling price, or the current domestic market price, whichever is lower; or
(B) if no ceiling price has been established, the higher of—
(i) the current domestic market price for such commodity; or
(ii) the minimum sale price established for agricultural commodities owned or controlled by the Commodity Credit Corporation, as provided in section 1427 of title 7.
(4) Delivery dates
No purchase or commitment to purchase any imported agricultural commodity shall specify a delivery date which is more than 1 year after the date of termination of this section.
(5) Presidential determinations
Except as provided in paragraph (7), the President may not execute a contract under this subsection unless the President, on a non-delegable basis, determines, with appropriate explanatory material and in writing, that—
(A) the industrial resource, material, or critical technology item is essential to the national defense;
(B) without Presidential action under this section, United States industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide the capability for the needed industrial resource, material, or critical technology item in a timely manner; and
(C) purchases, purchase commitments, or other action pursuant to this section are the most cost effective, expedient, and practical alternative method for meeting the need.
(6) Notification to Congress of shortfall
(A) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (7), the President shall provide written notice to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives of a domestic industrial base shortfall prior to taking action under this subsection to remedy the shortfall. The notice shall include the determinations made by the President under paragraph (5).
(B) Aggregate amounts
If the taking of any action under this subsection to correct a domestic industrial base shortfall would cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions for such shortfall to exceed $50,000,000, the action or actions may be taken only after the 30-day period following the date on which the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives have been notified in writing of the proposed action.
(C) Limitation
If the taking of any action or actions under this section to correct an industrial resource shortfall would cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions for such industrial resource shortfall to exceed $50,000,000, no such action or actions may be taken, unless such action or actions are authorized to exceed such amount by an Act of Congress.
(7) Waivers authorized
The requirements of paragraphs (1) through (6) may be waived—
(A) during a period of national emergency declared by the Congress or the President; or
(B) upon a determination by the President, on a nondelegable basis, that action is necessary to avert an industrial resource or critical technology item shortfall that would severely impair national defense capability.
(b) Exemption for certain limitations
Subject to the limitations in subsection (a), purchases and commitments to purchase and sales under subsection (a) may be made without regard to the limitations of existing law (other than section 1341 of title 31), for such quantities, and on such terms and conditions, including advance payments, and for such periods, but not extending beyond a date that is not more than 10 years from the date on which such purchase, purchase commitment, or sale was initially made, as the President deems necessary, except that purchases or commitments to purchase involving higher than established ceiling prices (or if no such established ceiling prices exist, currently prevailing market prices) or anticipated loss on resale shall not be made, unless it is determined that supply of the materials could not be effectively increased at lower prices or on terms more favorable to the Government, or that such purchases are necessary to assure the availability to the United States of overseas supplies.
(c) Presidential findings
(1) In general
The President may take the actions described in paragraph (2), if the President finds that—
(A) under generally fair and equitable ceiling prices, for any raw or nonprocessed material, there will result a decrease in supplies from high-cost sources of such material, and that the continuation of such supplies is necessary to carry out the objectives of this subchapter; or
(B) an increase in cost of transportation is temporary in character and threatens to impair maximum production or supply in any area at stable prices of any materials.
(2) Subsidy payments authorized
Upon a finding under paragraph (1), the President may make provision for subsidy payments on any such domestically produced material, other than an agricultural commodity, in such amounts and in such manner (including purchases of such material and its resale at a loss), and on such terms and conditions, as the President determines to be necessary to ensure that supplies from such high-cost sources are continued, or that maximum production or supply in such area at stable prices of such materials is maintained, as the case may be.
(d) Incidental authority
The procurement power granted to the President by this section shall include the power to transport and store and have processed and refined any materials procured under this section.
(e) Installation of equipment in industrial facilities
(1) Installation authorized
If the President determines that such action will aid the national defense, the President is authorized—
(A) to procure and install additional equipment, facilities, processes or improvements to plants, factories, and other industrial facilities owned by the Federal Government;
(B) to procure and install equipment owned by the Federal Government in plants, factories, and other industrial facilities owned by private persons;
(C) to provide for the modification or expansion of privately owned facilities, including the modification or improvement of production processes, when taking actions under section 4531 of this title, 4532 of this title, or this section; and
(D) to sell or otherwise transfer equipment owned by the Federal Government and installed under this subsection to the owners of such plants, factories, or other industrial facilities.
(2) Indemnification
The owner of any plant, factory, or other industrial facility that receives equipment owned by the Federal Government under this section shall agree—
(A) to waive any claim against the United States under section 9607 or 9613 of title 42; and
(B) to indemnify the United States against any claim described in paragraph (1) made by a third party that arises out of the presence or use of equipment owned by the Federal Government.
(f) Excess metals, minerals, and materials
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, metals, minerals, and materials acquired pursuant to this section which, in the judgment of the President, are excess to the needs of programs under this chapter, shall be transferred to the National Defense Stockpile established by the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.), when the President deems such action to be in the public interest.
(2) Transfers at no charge
Transfers made pursuant to this subsection shall be made without charge against or reimbursement from funds appropriated for the purposes of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98 et seq.), except that costs incident to such transfer, other than acquisition costs, shall be paid or reimbursed from such funds.
(g) Substitutes
When, in the judgement of the President, it will aid the national defense, the President may make provision for the development of substitutes for strategic and critical materials, critical components, critical technology items, and other industrial resources.
(Sept. 8, 1950, ch. 932, title III, § 303, as added Pub. L. 111–67, § 7, Sept. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 2013; amended Pub. L. 113–172, § 4(a), Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1897.)
heading: Termination of Section
text: For termination of section, see section 4564(a) of this title.
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: This chapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning act Sept. 8, 1950, ch. 932, 64 Stat. 798, known as the Defense Production Act of 1950, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 4501 of this title and Tables.
The Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act, referred to in subsec. (f), is act June 7, 1939, ch. 190, as revised generally by Pub. L. 96–41, § 2, July 30, 1979, 93 Stat. 319, which is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 98 et seq.) of chapter 5 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 98 of this title and Tables.
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 2093 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 303 of act Sept. 8, 1950, ch. 932, title III, 64 Stat. 801; July 31, 1951, ch. 275, title I, § 103(a), 65 Stat. 133; June 30, 1953, ch. 171, §§ 5, 6, 67 Stat. 130; Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 655, § 3, 69 Stat. 580; June 29, 1956, ch. 474, § 2, 70 Stat. 408; Pub. L. 88–343, § 2, June 30, 1964, 78 Stat. 235; Pub. L. 92–325, § 1, June 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 390; Pub. L. 94–273, § 2(29), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 376; Pub. L. 96–41, § 3(c), July 30, 1979, 93 Stat. 325; Pub. L. 96–294, title I, § 104(d), June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 618; Pub. L. 98–265, §§ 3(c), 4(c), Apr. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 150, 151; Pub. L. 102–558, title I, § 121(c), (d), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4204, 4206; Pub. L. 107–47, § 4(3), Oct. 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 260, related to purchase of raw materials and installation of equipment, prior to the general amendment of title III of this Act by Pub. L. 111–67.
heading: Amendments
text: 2014—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 113–172, § 4(a)(1)(A), substituted “, on a non-delegable basis, determines, with appropriate explanatory material and in writing,” for “determines” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(5)(C). Pub. L. 113–172, § 4(a)(1)(B)–(D), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (a)(6)(C). Pub. L. 113–172, § 4(a)(2), added subpar. (C).
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 113–172, § 4(b), Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1897, provided that: “Section 303(a)(6)(C) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 [50 U.S.C. 4533(a)(6)(C)], as added by subsection (a)(2), shall not apply to a project undertaken pursuant to a determination made before the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 26, 2014].”
heading: Increasing Access to Materials Necessary for National Security and Pandemic Recovery
text: Requirement described in subsec. (a)(6)(B) of this section not applicable during the 1-year period beginning on Mar. 27, 2020, and requirement described in subsec. (a)(6)(C) of this section not applicable during the 2-year period beginning on Mar. 27, 2020, see section 4017 of Pub. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 4532 of this title.
heading: Authorization To Take Actions To Correct the Industrial Resource Shortfall for High-Purity Beryllium Metal
text: Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VIII, § 842, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2418, provided that: “Notwithstanding any limitation in section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. 2093) [now 50 U.S.C. 4533], an action may be taken under such section to correct an industrial resource shortfall or domestic industrial base shortfall for high-purity beryllium metal if such action does not cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions for such shortfall to exceed ‘$85,000,000’.”
heading: Resource Shortfall for Radiation-Hardened Electronics
text: Pub. L. 108–195, § 3, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2892, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
Notwithstanding the limitation contained in [former] section 303(a)(6)(C) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 ([former] 50 U.S.C. App. 2093(a)(6)(C)), the President may take actions under section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to correct the industrial resource shortfall for radiation-hardened electronics, to the extent that such Presidential actions do not cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions to exceed $200,000,000.
“(b) Report by the Secretary.—
Before the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 19, 2003], the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives describing—
“(1) the current state of the domestic industrial base for radiation-hardened electronics;
“(2) the projected requirements of the Department of Defense for radiation-hardened electronics;
“(3) the intentions of the Department of Defense for the industrial base for radiation-hardened electronics; and
“(4) the plans of the Department of Defense for use of providers of radiation-hardened electronics beyond the providers with which the Department had entered into contractual arrangements under the authority of the Defense Production Act of 1950 [50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.], as of the date of the enactment of this Act.”
Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VIII, § 829, Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2618, provided that: “Notwithstanding the limitation in [former] section 303(a)(6)(C) of the Defense Production Act of 1950 ([former] 50 U.S.C. App. 2093(a)(6)(C)), action or actions may be taken under section 303 of that Act to correct the industrial resource shortfall for radiation-hardened electronics, if such actions do not cause the aggregate outstanding amount of all such actions to exceed $106,000,000.”
heading: Executive Documents
heading: Delegation of Functions
text: Authority of President under this section with respect to addressing the national energy emergency declared under Ex. Ord. No. 14156, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8433, set out as a note under section 1621 of this title, delegated to Secretary of Defense, see section 6(b) of Ex. Ord. No. 14241, Mar. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 13673, set out as a note under section 1601 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining.
Authority of President under this section with respect to addressing the national energy emergency declared under Ex. Ord. No. 14156, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8433, set out as a note under section 1621 of this title, delegated to Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, see section 6(d) of Ex. Ord. No. 14241, Mar. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 13673, set out as a note under section 1601 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining.
Authority of President under this section delegated to Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, see section 2 of Ex. Ord. No. 13922, May 14, 2020, 85 F.R. 30583, set out as a note under section 4532 of this title.
Authority of President under this section with respect to responding to the spread of COVID–19 within the United States delegated to Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security, see section 2 of Ex. Ord. No. 13911, Mar. 27, 2020, 85 F.R. 18403, set out as a note under section 4511 of this title.
Functions of President under this chapter relating to production, conservation, use, control, distribution, and allocation of energy, delegated to Secretary of Energy, see section 4 of Ex. Ord. No. 11790, June 25, 1974, 39 F.R. 23185, set out as a note under section 761 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
For delegation of certain authority of President under this section, see sections 303(a), 304, 305(b), and 306–308 of Ex. Ord. No. 13603, Mar. 16, 2012, 77 F.R. 16654, 16655, set out as a note under section 4553 of this title.
heading: Executive Waiver of Limitations
text: Requirements of subsec. (a)(1) to (6) of this section waived during the national emergency declared by Proc. No. 9994, Mar. 13, 2020, 85 F.R. 15337, set out as a note under section 1621 of this title, see section 2(c) of Ex. Ord. No. 13911, Mar. 27, 2020, 85 F.R. 18404, set out as a note under section 4511 of this title.