GSA seeks AbilityOne audit over country-of-origin labeling on federal products

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AbilityOne audit for origin labels

Highlights

GSA orders the U.S. AbilityOne Commission to audit all products and procurement data for country-of-origin compliance, with results due by Nov. 12, 2026.
Chinese-made technology items such as flash drives and charging packs found in AbilityOne offerings prompt national security and program integrity concerns amid claims of relabeling practices.
GSA cites risks of taxpayer funds supporting foreign competitors instead of creating U.S. jobs for blind and disabled Americans, potentially affecting federal procurement accountability and competition.

Audit request and compliance deadline

As reported by the General Services Administration, the agency is calling on the U.S. AbilityOne Commission to verify the country of origin of products sold to the federal government after Chinese-made items were identified in its offerings. GSA says the review follows President Trump’s recent executive orders on truthful advertising for products claiming to be made in America and on eliminating fraud.

GSA is asking the commission to conduct a full audit of all items offered for sale through GSA and related procurement data, covering country-of-origin representations, pricing, sourcing and compliance with applicable law and policy. The commission is required to submit information by Nov. 12, 2026, including a review of all items listed in the Federal Acquisition Service Verified Product Portal, any products with accurate country-of-origin data currently certified as “N/A” or “ZZ,” and documentation showing how continuous reviews will be completed.

GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst says federal tax dollars spent through the AbilityOne program should support jobs for blind and disabled Americans rather than foreign competitors. He adds that some AbilityOne products raise national security concerns and questions about the program’s ability to fulfill its mission.

Program criticism and procurement impact

AbilityOne is a U.S. federal program intended to create jobs for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by supplying government agencies with goods and services. But the program has faced criticism for allegedly drifting from that mission, including claims that blind and disabled workers are repackaging and relabeling foreign-made goods instead of manufacturing products in the U.S.

The Chinese merchandise identified on federal buying platforms includes technology products such as flash drives, docking ports and portable charging packs, which GSA says are vulnerable to espionage risks. The agency says the audit is needed to improve transparency and accountability, protect the integrity of federal procurement and ensure taxpayer money does not support inaccurate or misleading product claims.

AbilityOne has also been criticized over alleged reliance on segregated work settings, historical use of subminimum wages, weak oversight and accountability, high intermediary or executive compensation, and concerns that mandatory contracting can reduce competition without consistently leading to integrated employment for workers with disabilities. Neil Romano, acting chairman of the National Council on Disability, says the latest issue is another sign that the program has not kept up with the needs of Americans with disabilities.

In our earlier article on the U.S. Justice Department’s enforcement push against illegal timber trafficking after the 2026 APEC forestry ministerial meeting in China, we outlined how U.S. officials tied trade cooperation to tougher action on smuggling and related fraud. We also noted that the administration framed these efforts as protecting fair competition for American businesses, including through investigations and prosecutions aimed at those evading rules and distorting markets.

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