The presidential memorandum, signed on 13 February 2026, permits the Department of War (DoW) to bypass certain procedural steps to invest in domestic military supply chains, including sectors such as military apparel and body armour.
NCTO president and CEO Kim Glas said: “We sincerely thank President Trump for authorizing DPA Title III funding for certain warfighter clothing, textiles, and equipment. This has been a long-fought advocacy effort on the part of the domestic textile industry and our partners in coordination with the White House Made in America Office, DoW and allies on the Hill. This is an important breakthrough and a step forward for the US textile industry, a strategic industry that supports the US military and national security priorities.”
Last year, NCTO formally urged a presidential determination to grant the US textile industry access to DPA Title III funding.
The organisation argued that increased support would help strengthen domestic production capacity, protect critical supply chains, and address changing defence requirements.
Glas continued: “Under the Berry Amendment, a law requiring the DoW to purchase 100% US-made textiles and clothing, the US textile and apparel industrial base provides more than $1.8bn in uniforms, body armour, footwear, and individual equipment annually to the US armed forces. This industry supplies over 8,000 textile items and more than 30,000 line-items when sizing is included.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DPA authorities were used to boost US manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
NCTO pointed to this example as demonstrating the effectiveness of DPA Title III in scaling up domestic production during national emergencies.
According to Glas, wider availability of DPA Title III funding for defence purposes is expected to support the establishment of a “resilient domestic textile supply chain”.
This will also reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and enable the US to equip military personnel in all operational situations.
“We appreciate partnering with the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition on this effort. We look forward to working with the DoW and the administration on securing funding allocations to ensure the domestic industry can continue our servicemembers across all operational environments,” Glas added.
