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               Congressional                                                       ____
      & ~ Research Service






The CFATS Sunset and Its Implications for

Chemical Security



Updated September 5, 2023


The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, which regulated covered chemical
facilities for security, sunset as of July 28, 2023, after Congress allowed its statutory program
authorization to expire. The House passed a bill (H.R. 4470) on a 409-1 vote to extend the authorization
for two years. A companion Senate bill (S. 2499) did not advance past introduction, and a motion to
consider the House-passed bill was blocked in the Senate on July 26, shortly before the Senate adjourned
for fall recess.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS)  agency that administered CFATS, subsequently issued a statement that it had suspended all
program activities related to enforcement and compliance assistance. Additionally, requirements for
facilities to maintain existing site security plans or programs and to report possession of certain
chemicals of interest were suspended. CISA encouraged previously covered chemical facilities to
maintain existing security measures, and noted the availability of its resources for adoption of voluntary
best practices under the ChemLock initiative, which provides a toolkit of on-site assessments and
assistance, exercise packages, on-demand training, and online informational guidance.
Absent congressional action to reauthorize CFATS, continuing DHS infrastructure security and resilience
activities in the Chemical Sector would rely mainly on voluntary public-private partnerships, as is the
case in most other critical infrastructure sectors. Entities formerly covered by CFATS regulations may
choose to engage in critical infrastructure security and resilience partnerships, while also maintaining or
improving certain security practices and risk mitigation investments. However, they are no longer
required to do so.
This Insight describes potential changes to chemical security in the wake of CFATS expiration and
provides analysis of potential longer-term implications for the Chemical Sector's security posture if
CFATS  is not reauthorized. It may inform congressional action, whether Congress decides to reinstate
CFATS  (with or without modifications) or allows the lapse in regulatory authorization to continue
indefinitely.



                                                                  Congressional Research Service
                                                                    https://crsreports.congress.gov
                                                                                        IN12235

CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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