Chairman Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand of the Senate Special Committee on Aging have sent a letter to Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, seeking details about efforts to address vulnerabilities in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain that could impact military readiness and national security. The senators raised concerns over the country’s reliance on foreign sources, particularly China and India, for key drug ingredients and generic medications used by service members and veterans.
This request is part of ongoing work by Chairman Scott to strengthen domestic drug supply chains. Previous actions include correspondence with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., pharmaceutical distributors, group purchasing organizations, and an investigative report highlighting U.S. dependence on foreign-manufactured generics. The committee has also held four hearings since September 2025 examining risks from foreign generics, solutions for domestic manufacturing, showcasing U.S.-based production capabilities, and discussing new legislation—the CLEAR LABELS Act—which would require country-of-origin labeling for drugs.
In their letter to Secretary Hegseth, the senators wrote:
“The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging is examining how vulnerable pharmaceutical supply chains present a risk to public health and national security. The Department is the primary agency responsible for the health, safety, and readiness of our service members. It plays an essential role in ensuring access to lifesaving medicines. Given this significant responsibility, we write to request information regarding efforts by the Department, including the Defense Health Agency and the Defense Logistics Agency, to identify and address existing supply chain vulnerabilities to bolster military readiness and national security.”
They noted that about 91 percent of prescriptions filled annually in the United States are generic drugs—a figure that highlights broad reliance among Americans including active duty personnel, veterans, retirees, and their families.
The letter points out that China and India are major suppliers of key starting materials (KSMs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), making U.S. oversight difficult when sourcing these foundational components abroad. This dependency represents a potential vulnerability if geopolitical tensions or trade disputes disrupt supply lines.
Recent reports indicate that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sometimes allowed exemptions for certain drugs or ingredients from import bans placed on factories found operating below FDA standards—often located in China or India—raising concerns about drug safety.
The senators referenced a recent trade dispute where China imposed export restrictions despite a bilateral agreement with the United States as an example of how such leverage could extend to pharmaceuticals in future conflicts.
“As a direct purchaser of medications,” they wrote, “the Department can bolster our pharmaceutical supply chain security by prioritizing the acquisition of medications that are manufactured and source ingredients domestically.” They added that transparency measures like country-of-origin labeling should be implemented so providers within TRICARE—and patients—know where medicines come from.
The letter asks Secretary Hegseth for detailed information by February 28 regarding:
– The proportion of drugs purchased from foreign sources
– Use of products from manufacturers exempted from FDA import bans
– Inventory levels if Chinese exports were interrupted
– Impact assessments on military readiness if exports were restricted
– Steps taken to avoid purchasing drugs linked to forced labor allegations
– Implementation plans for country-of-origin labeling
“As chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging,” they concluded, “the health and safety of Americans is our top priority. We must work to identify and address existing supply chain vulnerabilities, including our nation’s extreme reliance on foreign-made generic drugs.”
The Senate Aging Committee provides resources such as fraud prevention tools for older Americans nationwide while overseeing federal programs like Medicare and Social Security through regular hearings (source). Its jurisdiction covers issues affecting seniors’ health care access—including those related to medication safety—and it operates offices in both Dirksen (majority) and Hart (minority) Senate Office Buildings (source). Rick Scott currently serves as chair while Kirsten Gillibrand serves as ranking member (source).
