GSA orders audit of AbilityOne program after foreign-made items listed as U.S.
The General Services Administration has demanded a full review of the AbilityOne procurement list after discovering Chinese-made technology labeled as “Made in USA.”
In a draft communication, GSA chief Edward Forst instructed the AbilityOne Commission, led by Christina Brandt, to audit the origin, cost and legal compliance of all products on its Mandatory Procurement List, after finding Chinese-made technology marked as U.S. made. The request aligns with President Donald Trump’s March 2026 order demanding accurate “Made in America” claims in federal buying and has been noted by Vice President JD Vance’s anti-fraud task force.
GSA’s review also questions pricing practices, noting some nonprofits can apply mark-ups up to 55% and that executives at certain organizations receive salaries exceeding $1 million, contrasted with an average $33,000 wage for blind workers. Past settlements involving Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired and CW Resources were referenced to illustrate prior compliance issues. The AbilityOne program, which aims to employ blind and disabled Americans, was given a deadline of Nov. 16 to correct origin data and outline ongoing oversight measures. The National Council on Disability’s acting chair Neil Romano called the program a “policy relic” that is failing its mission.
Why it matters
Taxpayer money may be funding foreign products and excessive nonprofit profits instead of jobs for blind and disabled Americans.
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