[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 15, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 15635-15641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06465]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 71 / Tuesday, April 15, 2025 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 15635]]
Executive Order 14269 of April 9, 2025
Restoring America's Maritime Dominance
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. The commercial shipbuilding
capacity and maritime workforce of the United States
has been weakened by decades of Government neglect,
leading to the decline of a once strong industrial base
while simultaneously empowering our adversaries and
eroding United States national security. Both our
allies and our strategic competitors produce ships for
a fraction of the cost needed in the United States.
Recent data shows that the United States constructs
less than one percent of commercial ships globally,
while the People's Republic of China (PRC) is
responsible for producing approximately half.
Rectifying these issues requires a comprehensive
approach that includes securing consistent,
predictable, and durable Federal funding, making United
States-flagged and built vessels commercially
competitive in international commerce, rebuilding
America's maritime manufacturing capabilities (the
Maritime Industrial Base), and expanding and
strengthening the recruitment, training, and retention
of the relevant workforce.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States
to revitalize and rebuild domestic maritime industries
and workforce to promote national security and economic
prosperity.
Sec. 3. Maritime Action Plan. (a) Within 210 days of
the date of this order, the Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs (APNSA), in coordination
with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Labor, the
Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, the United States Trade Representative
(USTR), and the heads of executive departments and
agencies (agencies) the APNSA deems appropriate, shall
submit a Maritime Action Plan (MAP) to the President,
through the APNSA and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB Director) to achieve the
policy set forth in this order.
(b) The OMB Director, in coordination with the
APNSA, shall be responsible for all legislative,
regulatory, and fiscal assessments related to the MAP.
(c) The MAP shall, to the extent permissible and
consistent with applicable law, including the Buy
American Act (41 U.S.C. 8301-8305), reflect actions
taken pursuant to sections 4 through 21 of this order.
Sec. 4. Ensure the Security and Resilience of the
Maritime Industrial Base. Within 180 days of the date
of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the
Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of
Homeland Security, shall provide to the APNSA and the
OMB Director for inclusion in the MAP an assessment of
options both for the use of available authorities and
resources, such as Defense Production Act Title III
authorities, and for the use of private capital to the
maximum extent possible to invest in and expand the
Maritime Industrial Base including, but not limited to,
investment and expansion of commercial and defense
shipbuilding capabilities, component supply chains,
ship repair and marine transportation capabilities,
port infrastructure, and the adjacent workforce. The
Secretary of Defense shall pursue using the Office of
Strategic Capital loan program to improve the
shipbuilding industrial base. As part of their
[[Page 15636]]
assessment, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall:
(a) identify key maritime components in the supply
chain that are essential for rebuilding and expanding
the Maritime Industrial Base and that should be
prioritized for investment;
(b) ensure that their recommendations of public and
private investments are made according to a clear
metric, derived in consultation with the Assistant to
the President for Economic Policy, of return on
invested capital for the United States taxpayer and to
the economic and national security of the United
States; and
(c) ensure that their recommendations take into
consideration the projected increases to commercial and
defense capabilities, the projected growth in economic
activity, and the projected benefits for taxpayers and
the workforce.
Sec. 5. Actions in the Investigation of the PRC's
Unfair Targeting of Maritime, Logistics, and
Shipbuilding Sectors. (a) With respect to the actions,
if any, that the USTR determines to take consistent
with the USTR's notice of public hearing entitled
Proposed Action in Section 301 Investigation of the
PRC's Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and
Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance, 90 Fed. Reg. 10843
(February 27, 2025), the USTR shall:
(i) coordinate with appropriate agencies to collect additional information,
as appropriate and to the extent permitted by law, in support of
administering such actions; and
(ii) coordinate with the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland
Security to take appropriate steps to enforce any restriction, fee,
penalty, or duty imposed pursuant to such actions.
(b) Based on the USTR's determinations arising out
of its Section 301 investigation into the PRC's
targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding
sectors, the USTR shall also consider taking all
necessary steps permitted by law to propose the
following actions:
(i) tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes manufactured, assembled, or made using
components of PRC origin, or manufactured anywhere in the world by a
company owned, controlled, or substantially influenced by a PRC national;
and
(ii) tariffs on other cargo handling equipment.
Sec. 6. Enforce Collection of Harbor Maintenance Fee
and Other Charges. In order to prevent cargo carriers
from circumventing the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) on
imported goods through the practice of making port in
Canada or Mexico and sending their cargo into the
United States through land borders, and to ensure the
collection of other charges as applicable, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all necessary
steps, including proposing new legislation, as
permitted by law to:
(a) require all foreign-origin cargo arriving by
vessel to clear the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
entry process at a United States port of entry for
security and collection of all applicable duties,
customs, taxes, fees, interest, and other charges; and
(b) ensure any foreign-origin cargo first arriving
by vessel to North America clearing the CBP process at
an inland location from the country of land transit
(Canada or Mexico) is assessed applicable customs,
duties, taxes, fees (including the HMF), interest, and
other charges plus a 10 percent service fee for
additional costs to the CBP, so long as the cargo being
shipped into the United States is not substantially
transformed from its condition at the time of arrival
into the country of land transit (with the discretion
for such decisions to be determined by CBP).
Sec. 7. Engage Allies and Partners to Align Trade
Policies. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the
USTR, in consultation with the Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Commerce, shall engage treaty allies,
partners, and other like-minded countries around the
world with respect to their potential imposition of any
actions taken pursuant to sections 5 and 6
[[Page 15637]]
of this order. The USTR shall deliver an engagement
plan and progress report on these engagements to the
President.
Sec. 8. Reduce Dependence on Adversaries through Allies
and Partners. Within 90 days of the date of this order,
the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the
Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, shall
recommend to the APNSA and the OMB Director for
inclusion in the MAP all available incentives to help
shipbuilders domiciled in allied nations partner to
undertake capital investment in the United States to
help strengthen the shipbuilding capacity of the United
States.
Sec. 9. Launch a Maritime Security Trust Fund. In
conjunction with the formulation of the President's
Budget, the OMB Director shall, in coordination with
the Secretary of Transportation, develop a legislative
proposal, which shall be described in detail in the
MAP, to establish a Maritime Security Trust Fund that
can serve as a reliable funding source to deliver
consistent support for MAP programs. This proposal
shall consider how new or existing tariff revenue,
fines, fees, or tax revenue could further the goal of
establishing a more reliable, dedicated funding source
for programs support by the MAP.
Sec. 10. Shipbuilding Financial Incentives Program. In
conjunction with the formulation of the President's
Budget and consistent with the findings of the report
required under section 12 of this order, the Secretary
of Transportation shall submit a legislative proposal
to the APNSA and the OMB Director, which shall be
described in detail in the MAP, that establishes a
financial incentives program with broad flexibility to
incentivize private investment in the construction of
commercial components, parts, and vessels; capital
improvements to commercial vessel shipyards; capital
improvements to commercial vessel repair facilities and
drydocks through grants; and Federal Credit Reform Act-
compliant loans and loan guarantees. Such proposal may
augment or replace existing programs with similar
purpose including the Small Shipyard Grant Program and
the Federal Ship Financing (Title XI) Program.
Sec. 11. Establish Maritime Prosperity Zones. Within 90
days of the date of this order, the Secretary of
Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of the
Treasury, the Secretary of Transportation, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security, shall deliver a plan to
the President through the APNSA for inclusion in the
MAP that identifies opportunities to incentivize and
facilitate domestic and allied investment in United
States maritime industries and waterfront communities
through establishment of maritime prosperity zones. The
proposal shall:
(a) model these maritime prosperity zones on the
opportunity zones established pursuant to section 13823
of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-
97, 131 Stat. 2054), which I signed into law during my
first Administration;
(b) include stipulations for appropriate regulatory
relief in the establishment of such zones; and
(c) provide for zones that are outside of
traditional coastal shipbuilding and ship repair
centers and are geographically diverse, including river
regions as well as the Great Lakes.
Sec. 12. Report on Maritime Industry Needs. Within 90
days of the date of this order, the Secretary of
Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of
Homeland Security and the heads of other agencies as
appropriate, shall deliver a report to the OMB Director
and APNSA for inclusion in the MAP that inventories
Federal programs that could be used to sustain and grow
the supply of and demand for the United States maritime
industry. The report and inventory shall include:
(a) any Federal programs that provide financial and
regulatory incentives for United States shipping,
shipbuilding, and shipbuilding supply chains, including
the training of shipbuilders and United States-
credentialed mariners;
[[Page 15638]]
(b) Maritime Administration programs such as the
Tanker Security Program, Cable Security Fleet, Maritime
Security Programs, Maritime Environmental and Technical
Assistance Program, Title XI, Assistance to Small
Shipyards, Port Infrastructure Development Program, the
United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), and
programs that support the State Maritime Academies;
(c) existing domestic cargo preference laws,
including the Military Cargo Preference Act of 1904, as
amended, (10 U.S.C. 2631) and the Cargo Preference Act
of 1954, as amended, (46 U.S.C. 55304), and whether and
how they can be used to ensure that United States cargo
is transported on United States-built and flagged
vessels, including a review of the existing waiver
process and all current waivers to ensure they are
consistent with the promotion of American domestic
shipping;
(d) other available means that could further
support the industry, including modifications of
existing programs, establishment of new programs, and
tax and regulatory relief; and
(e) in coordination with the National Security
Council and the Office of Management and Budget, the
costs and benefits of increased cargo preference rates,
including on liquid cargo carriers, tankers, and
military useful vessels, and options for increasing
cargo preference compliance and directing open market
procurement of shipping to meet urgent military needs
for maritime vessels.
Sec. 13. Expand Mariner Training and Education. Within
90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of
State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Labor, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary
of Education, and the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall deliver a report to the President through the
APNSA for inclusion in the MAP with recommendations to
address workforce challenges in the maritime sector
through maritime educational institutions and workforce
transitions.
(a) In preparing their report, the Secretary of
State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Labor, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary
of Education, and the Secretary of Homeland Security
shall consult, as needed, with industry stakeholders
including private industry and labor organizations.
(b) The report shall:
(i) include the current number of credentialed mariners and estimate the
additional credentialed mariners required to support the policies described
in this order;
(ii) analyze the impact of establishing new and expanding existing merchant
marine academies as a means of educating, training, and certifying the
additional credentialed merchant mariners estimated under subsection (b)(i)
of this section;
(iii) identify any requirements for credentialing mariners that are
unnecessary, insufficient, or unduly burdensome and provide recommendations
for reform;
(iv) inventory existing educational and technical training grants and
scholarships to colleges and vocational-technical training institutions for
critical shipbuilding specialties and other maritime studies, and provide
recommendations for enhancement; and
(v) assess the United States Coast Guard credentialing program
applicability to United States Navy Active Duty and Reserve sailors to
increase opportunities for sailors to transfer into the Merchant Marine
with validated skills.
(c) Consistent with the findings of the report and
in conjunction with the formulation of the President's
Budget, the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of
Transportation, the Secretary of Education, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall deliver a
legislative proposal to the APNSA and the OMB Director
that:
[[Page 15639]]
(i) reflects the recommendations of the report required under this section;
(ii) establishes national maritime scholarships to send promising maritime
experts abroad to learn cutting edge techniques and subjects, such as
innovative maritime logistics, clean fuels and advanced nuclear energy,
human-machine teaming, and additive manufacturing and other advanced
technologies; and
(iii) offers scholarships to maritime experts from allied countries to
teach at United States institutions.
Sec. 14. Modernize the United States Merchant Marine
Academy. (a) The Secretary of Transportation shall:
(i) within 30 days of this order consistent with applicable law and
available appropriations, take action to hire the necessary facilities
staff and reprogram budgetary resources needed to execute urgent deferred
maintenance projects and any other mission critical repair works at the
USMMA;
(ii) take immediate action to finalize a long-term master facilities plan
(LMFP) for the modernization of the USMMA campus and submit such plan to
the APNSA and OMB Director for concurrence; and
(iii) within 90 days of the concurrence described in subsection (a)(ii) of
this section, in consultation with the Department of Government Efficiency,
submit a 5-year capital improvement plan (CIP) consistent with the LMFP to
the APNSA and OMB Director that includes capital project budgets,
schedules, and sequencing, as well as an inventory of deferred maintenance
items necessary to sustain campus operations through completion of the CIP.
(b) All actions taken pursuant to this section
shall be detailed in the MAP.
Sec. 15. Improve Procurement Efficiency. Within 90 days
of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and
the Director of the National Science Foundation shall
develop a proposal for improved acquisition strategies
processes for United States Government vessels and
submit such proposal to APNSA and the OMB Director for
inclusion in the MAP. The proposal shall:
(a) have as its objective providing American
shipbuilders with market forecasting needed to justify
investments in infrastructure, workforce, and
intellectual property to meet United States demand;
(b) include reforms recommended by the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security related
to:
(i) staff structure and innovations in acquisition strategies that will
improve Federal vessel procurement; and
(ii) reductions of the layers of approval needed to execute, build, and
improve the vessel acquisition process, including by utilizing commercial
acquisition and modular design practices that reduce complexity and prevent
frequent changes to ship designs;
(c) identify for elimination excessive
requirements, including the number of Government
reviews and onerous regulations that add to ship design
and acquisition delays; and
(d) consider use of broad industry standards and
American-made readily available parts and components to
drive up production volume while shrinking the
iterative design process, which historically has led to
delays and cost increases.
Sec. 16. Improve Government Efficiency. Within 90 days
of the date of this order, the Department of Government
Efficiency shall begin a separate review of the
Department of Defense and Department of Homeland
Security vessel procurement processes and deliver a
proposal to the President, through the APNSA for
inclusion in the MAP, to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of these processes.
[[Page 15640]]
Sec. 17. Increase the Fleet of Commercial Vessels
Trading Internationally under the flag of the United
States. Within 180 days of the date of this order, in
conjunction with the formulation of the President's
Budget and consistent with the findings of the report
required under section 12 of this section, the
Secretary of Transportation shall in coordination with
the Secretary of Defense, deliver a legislative
proposal to the APNSA and OMB Director for inclusion in
the MAP that:
(a) is designed to ensure that adequate cubed
footage and gross tonnage of United States-flagged
commercial vessels can be called upon in times of
crisis, while limiting the likelihood of Government
waste;
(b) provides incentives that will:
(i) grow the fleet of United States built, crewed, and flagged vessels that
serve as readily deployable assets for national security purposes; and
(ii) increase the participation of United States commercial vessels in
international trade; and
(c) enhances existing subsidies to include coverage
of certain construction or modification costs in a
manner designed to enhance incentives for the
commercial shipping industry to operate militarily
useful ships that trade internationally under the flag
of the United States.
Sec. 18. Ensure the Security and Leadership of Arctic
Waterways. Within 90 days of the date of this order,
the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the
Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, and the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall
develop a strategy that identifies the vision, goals,
and objectives necessary to secure arctic waterways and
enable American prosperity in the face of evolving
arctic security challenges and associated risks, and
deliver it to the APNSA for inclusion in the MAP.
Sec. 19. Shipbuilding Review. Within 45 days of the
date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation,
and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a
review of shipbuilding for United States Government use
and submit a report to the President with
recommendations to increase the number of participants
and competitors within United States shipbuilding, and
to reduce cost overruns and production delays for
surface, subsurface, and unmanned programs. This report
must include separate itemized and prioritized lists of
recommendations for the United States Army, Navy, and
Coast Guard and shall be included in the MAP.
Sec. 20. Deregulatory Initiatives. Within 30 days of
the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall conduct a review of their
regulations, and implementation thereof, across all
components pertaining to the domestic commercial
maritime fleet and maritime port access to determine
where each agency may be able to deregulate within the
framework of Executive Order 14192 of January 31, 2025
(Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation), to reduce
unnecessary costs and clear barriers to emerging
technology and related efficiencies. Each agency will
submit a report of its findings to the OMB Director and
to the APNSA for inclusion in the MAP.
Sec. 21. Inactive Reserve Fleet. Within 90 days of the
date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall
conduct a review and issue guidance on the funding,
retention, support, and mobilization of a robust
inactive reserve fleet. This review and guidance shall
be delivered to the APNSA for inclusion in the MAP.
Sec. 22. Coordination. Unless otherwise specified in
this order, the plans, reports, reviews, and
recommendations that are required to be submitted to
the President by this order shall be developed through
interagency coordination in accordance with National
Security Presidential Memorandum 1 of January 20, 2025
(Organization of the National Security Council and
Subcommittees), or its successors.
[[Page 15641]]
Sec. 23. Severability. If any provision of this order,
or the application of any provision to any person or
circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of
this order and the application of its provisions to any
other persons or circumstances shall not be affected
thereby.
Sec. 24. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(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.
(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.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 9, 2025.
[FR Doc. 2025-06465
Filed 4-14-25; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P