Documents › Executive orders › 14383
Executive Order 14383
Establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy
Signed February 6, 2026, printed at 91 FR 6497. 5 sections of substance, 1,671 words.
This order is about arms sales. It says the best gear is made here. It calls for a plan to sell more of it abroad.
Sec. 1. Purpose
American-manufactured military equipment is the best in the world, resulting in American dominance across international defense exports. It is critical that the United States fully use this comparative advantage in arms transfers as both a tool of foreign policy and a tool to expand domestic production and transfer. To maintain our military dominance and technological superiority, the time has come to establish, implement, and execute an America First Arms Transfer Strategy. As the first strategy of its kind, it will ensure that future arms sales prioritize American interests by using foreign purchases and capital to build American production and capacity. This strategy will advance a technologically superior, ready, and resilient national security industrial enterprise. It will strengthen the United States defense industrial base to ensure it has the capacity to support our military
American-manufactured military equipment is the best in the world, resulting in American dominance across international defense exports. It is critical that the United States fully use this comparative advantage in arms transfers as both a tool of foreign policy and a tool to expand domestic production and transfer. To maintain our military dominance and technological superiority, the time has come to establish, implement, and execute an America First Arms Transfer Strategy. As the first strategy of its kind, it will ensure that future arms sales prioritize American interests by using foreign purchases and capital to build American production and capacity. This strategy will advance a technologically superior, ready, and resilient national security industrial enterprise. It will strengthen the United States defense industrial base to ensure it has the capacity to support our military
This states the case the order makes. It says military gear made here is the best. It says that leads world arms exports. It says the country must use that edge. Arms sales serve foreign policy. They also build production here. It announces a new arms transfer strategy. It says the strategy will put this country first.
Sec. 2. Policy
It is the policy of the United States to intentionally use arms transfers as a tool of American foreign policy and to expand strategically relevant industrial production capacity in the United States by: (a) establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy that provides clear direction and implementation guidance to arms transfer stakeholders; and (b) streamlining processes across executive departments and agencies (agencies) to strengthen effectiveness and create efficiencies in our defense sales enterprise.
It is the policy of the United States to intentionally use arms transfers as a tool of American foreign policy and to expand strategically relevant industrial production capacity in the United States by: (a) establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy that provides clear direction and implementation guidance to arms transfer stakeholders; and (b) streamlining processes across executive departments and agencies (agencies) to strengthen effectiveness and create efficiencies in our defense sales enterprise.
This states the policy. Arms sales will be used on purpose as a foreign policy tool. They will also build up factories here. A new strategy will set the aims. It must give clear guidance to those who take part. Steps across the agencies will be made simpler. The goal is a faster, stronger sales system.
Sec. 3. An America First Arms Transfer Strategy
(a) An America First Arms Transfer Strategy shall accomplish the following objectives: (i) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to increase production and build production capacity for weapons and platforms the Secretary of War determines to be the most operationally relevant for executing the National Security Strategy (NSS); (ii) The United States will use foreign purchases and capital to support domestic reindustrialization, expand production capacity, and improve the resilience of the United States defense industrial base. Arms sales and transfers will support Department of War (DoW) efforts to promote innovation and competition by incentivizing new entrants and nontraditional defense companies to contribute to the defense industrial base; (iii) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to reinforce DoW acquisition and sustainment activities, including by
(a) An America First Arms Transfer Strategy shall accomplish the following objectives: (i) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to increase production and build production capacity for weapons and platforms the Secretary of War determines to be the most operationally relevant for executing the National Security Strategy (NSS); (ii) The United States will use foreign purchases and capital to support domestic reindustrialization, expand production capacity, and improve the resilience of the United States defense industrial base. Arms sales and transfers will support Department of War (DoW) efforts to promote innovation and competition by incentivizing new entrants and nontraditional defense companies to contribute to the defense industrial base; (iii) The United States will use arms sales and transfers to reinforce DoW acquisition and sustainment activities, including by
This lists the goals. Sales must raise output of key weapons. The war secretary picks which ones matter most. A national strategy guides that choice. Foreign money must fund factories here. New firms must be drawn into the work. Nontraditional suppliers are named. Sales must also support how the military buys and maintains gear.
Sec. 4. Eliminating Inefficiencies in American Arms Transfers
In order to fully implement an America First Arms Transfer Strategy and streamline our defense sales process, the United States Government shall undertake the following actions: (i) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop clear criteria for determining which weapons, platforms, or capabilities require Enhanced End Use Monitoring. Additionally, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish an End Use Monitoring coordination group, consisting of designees from each respective department, which will meet to improve the effectiveness and coordination of their respective department's end-use monitoring activities. These actions will improve information sharing and efficiencies to ensure allies and partners are complying with United States requirements and to reduce
In order to fully implement an America First Arms Transfer Strategy and streamline our defense sales process, the United States Government shall undertake the following actions: (i) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop clear criteria for determining which weapons, platforms, or capabilities require Enhanced End Use Monitoring. Additionally, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish an End Use Monitoring coordination group, consisting of designees from each respective department, which will meet to improve the effectiveness and coordination of their respective department's end-use monitoring activities. These actions will improve information sharing and efficiencies to ensure allies and partners are complying with United States requirements and to reduce
This cuts red tape. The war secretary has 90 days. State works with it. They must set clear tests for closer end use checks. Some weapons need them. State, War and Commerce must form a coordination group. Each names a member. They meet to improve those checks. The aim is better sharing and fewer gaps.
Sec. 5. Enhancing Accountability and Transparency
(a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish the Promoting American Military Sales Task Force (Task Force) to coordinate efforts to implement the America First Arms Transfer Strategy and enhance accountability and transparency throughout the arms transfer enterprise. The Task Force shall: (i) be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs or his designee, and be composed of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; (ii) develop a charter to clearly define the specific objectives and structure of the Task Force; (iii) include as ex officio members the Service Acquisition Executives of the military departments and
(a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Commerce shall establish the Promoting American Military Sales Task Force (Task Force) to coordinate efforts to implement the America First Arms Transfer Strategy and enhance accountability and transparency throughout the arms transfer enterprise. The Task Force shall: (i) be chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs or his designee, and be composed of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; (ii) develop a charter to clearly define the specific objectives and structure of the Task Force; (iii) include as ex officio members the Service Acquisition Executives of the military departments and
This adds a task force. State, War and Commerce have 30 days to form it. A national security aide chairs it. Three under secretaries sit on it. One comes from each department. It must write a charter. That sets its goals and shape. Service buying chiefs join as ex officio members. It must track how the strategy is carried out.
Sec. 6. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise effect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 6500]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, February 6, 2026.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise effect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 6500]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, February 6, 2026.
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
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