WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Safeguarding Our Stockpiles (SOS) Act to restore the original intent of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and ensure that 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, the 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, the U.S. has authorized nearly $24 billion in defense transfers to Ukraine through PDA, drawing down U.S. stockpiles in 57 separate instances. Our stockpiles cannot be replenished at the rate they are being depleted. The consistent drawdowns for Ukraine violate the original intent of PDA and threaten the readiness of the U.S. military in higher-priority theaters.

Sen. Lee’s SOS Act would put critical guardrails on future uses of PDA by introducing the following 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. This guarantees that America’s own defense needs are not compromised by external commitments.

Sunsetting Unused PDA: To prevent the misuse of drawdown authority, any unused portions of PDA and the 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 also mandates that Congress approve any use of PDA exceeding the traditional $100 million fiscal year cap on a case-by-case, country-specific basis. Additionally, Congress must authorize sufficient funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles.

The SOS Act: Bill text | One-pager