President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas introduced the Supply Chain Resilience Center (SCRC) during the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience. This newly established U.S. government entity aims to collaborate with the private sector to enhance the security of supply chains. The SCRC will analyze vulnerabilities and engage in scenario planning with private sector stakeholders to mitigate disruptions, ensuring the reliable and efficient delivery of goods and services while reducing costs for the American people. This announcement is part of a broader initiative by the Biden-Harris Administration to improve Americans’ access to essential products.
Secretary Mayorkas emphasized the importance of securing critical infrastructure, stating, “The global pandemic has underscored the need for robust and resilient supply chains. The Supply Chain Resilience Center will play a crucial role in anticipating and preventing disruptions caused by factors such as conflict, political instability, and climate change.”
The SCRC, set to maximize the Department of Homeland Security’s authorities, capabilities, expertise, and data sources, will address public safety and security implications arising from disruptions of goods and services. At its launch, the SCRC will focus on:
Identifying security vulnerabilities at U.S. seaports and developing actionable solutions to mitigate threats to the U.S. supply chain. This includes evaluating risks from adversarial nation-state threats, untrustworthy equipment, data extraction, insider risk, and unvetted access.
Collaborating with the Department of Commerce and the private sector to secure the semiconductor supply chain, strengthen resilience, and advance the implementation of the CHIPS Act.
Partnering with industry to ensure strategically valuable infrastructure owners and operators can provide essential goods and services in instances of disruptions or shortages.
Hosting tabletop exercises in 2024 to test the resiliency of critical cross-border supply chains with U.S. federal agencies, foreign governments, and industry partners.
Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers stated, “The Supply Chain Resilience Center will bring government and industry together to enhance preparedness and coordination in addressing challenges.”
Secretary Mayorkas will seek feedback from representatives of port operations, cargo logistics industries, and U.S. importers and exporters in the coming weeks to better serve these businesses.
The creation of the SCRC follows the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s recommendation in its Final Report, adopted on March 16, 2022, to establish a central clearinghouse for critical supply chain information. Dmitri Alperovitch, Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator and Co-Chair of HSAC Supply Chain Security Subcommittee, expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the SCRC, highlighting its vital role in addressing potential vulnerabilities.
The SCRC, housed within the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, will report to Under Secretary Robert Silvers and Acting Assistant Secretary Christa Brzozowski. Comprising personnel from DHS Headquarters, FEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, CBP, ICE, and CISA, the SCRC will maintain regular contact with industry and other stakeholders.
