SLC Times

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced the Safeguarding Our Stockpiles (SOS) Act, aiming to restore the original intent of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and ensure U.S. military stockpiles are not depleted without adequate safeguards. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is an original cosponsor of the bill.

“We cannot risk America’s military readiness to fund unchecked foreign interventions,” said Senator Lee. “Presidential Drawdown Authority was meant to address short-term, unforeseen emergencies, not serve as a long-term strategy that leaves our own defenses vulnerable. The SOS Act requires accountability and ensures we are always prepared to defend the homeland.”

Initially enacted in 1961 as part of the Foreign Assistance Act, PDA allows the President to transfer defense articles from U.S. stockpiles to meet unforeseen emergencies. The law was intended for “unforeseen events or ones so uncertain that it would be inappropriate to budget for them” or “in situations where the only alternatives were to do nothing...” However, recent overuse of PDA—particularly in providing military assistance to Ukraine—has exposed gaps in the law that leave America’s defense military readiness at risk.

Since 2021, nearly $24 billion in defense transfers have been authorized through PDA for Ukraine, drawing down U.S. stockpiles in 57 separate instances. According to Senator Lee, these consistent drawdowns violate the original intent of PDA and threaten U.S. military readiness in higher-priority theaters.

Senator Lee’s SOS Act proposes several key reforms:

Defining an Unforeseen Emergency: The bill clarifies what qualifies as an “unforeseen emergency,” limiting PDA use to instances where a kinetic attack on a U.S. treaty ally poses an imminent threat to U.S. security interests. PDA usage would also be limited to 20 days.

Prioritizing Stockpile Replenishment: The SOS Act ensures that the President cannot authorize transfers of defense equipment if there are insufficient resources to replenish the stockpiles, guaranteeing that America’s own defense needs are not compromised by external commitments.

Sunsetting Unused PDA: To prevent misuse of drawdown authority, any unused portions of PDA and authority to deliver weapons pursuant to open drawdown cases will automatically expire at the end of each fiscal year. New drawdowns would require renewed congressional authorization.

Congressional Approval for Excess Drawdowns: The bill mandates that Congress approve any use of PDA exceeding the traditional $100 million fiscal year cap on a case-by-case, country-specific basis and authorizes sufficient funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles.

The full text and a one-pager summary of the SOS Act can be accessed online.