Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Representative Elise Stefanik (R-New York) introduced the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act of 2026 this week, aiming to prevent Chinese-owned entities and certain foreign nationals from transporting U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) freight.
The bicameral legislation seeks to tighten oversight on the domestic supply chain for military equipment by establishing a mandatory federal registry and a rigorous certification process for motor carriers.
If passed, the bill would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in coordination with the Department of Defense, to create the “Secure Defense Freight Carrier Registry.”
Within one year of the bill’s enactment, any trucking company—including prime contractors, subcontractors, and independent owner-operators—would be prohibited from bidding on or performing DoD transportation contracts unless they are listed on this registry.
To qualify for the registry, carriers must undergo enhanced national security vetting. This includes screening for any ownership, control, or “significant business relationships” with companies identified by the DoD as Chinese military companies.
Additionally, the bill mandates that drivers and personnel with access to military freight meet security standards similar to those required by the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.
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“Communist China continues spying on American military technology by exploiting truck drivers handling Department of War cargo,” Senator Cotton stated upon the bill’s introduction. “My bill will require anyone handling military freight to be properly vetted to ensure our adversaries cannot gain access to valuable information.”
The legislation also introduces a strict certification requirement. Carriers must swear that they have no ties to entities on the 1260H list—a federal record of Chinese military companies operating in the U.S. Those found providing false certifications would face civil penalties and potential debarment from future government contracts.
Representative Stefanik, who introduced the companion bill in the House, noted that the current lack of such a prohibition is a vulnerability.
“Most Americans would be shocked to learn that U.S. law does not already prohibit Communist China’s military from receiving transportation contracts tied to American defense projects,” Stefanik said. “This bicameral legislation closes that loophole by establishing a clear firewall between the Chinese Communist Party and Department of War contracts.”
The bill provides the Secretary of Defense with the authority to grant waivers in “exigent circumstances,” but otherwise mandates that all surface transportation of military goods be handled by vetted, registry-approved carriers.
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