The General Services Administration (GSA) has initiated a sweeping audit of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission's federal procurement program, following the discovery of foreign-made technology, including items from China, being falsely advertised as American-made. GSA Administrator Edward Forst stated that federal dollars intended to support American jobs, particularly for blind and disabled individuals through the AbilityOne program, should not benefit foreign competitors.
The audit, prompted by a draft letter from GSA to AbilityOne Commission Chair Christina Brandt, aims to verify the country of origin for all 18,000 products on the program's Mandatory Procurement List. It will also examine pricing, sourcing, and compliance with federal law and procurement policies. Forst expressed concerns that questionable products undermine the security of the federal marketplace.
This review aligns with President Donald Trump's March 2026 executive order mandating truthful "Made in America" advertising in federal procurement. The audit has also drawn the attention of Vice President JD Vance's anti-fraud task force.
According to GSA, multiple technology products listed on federal procurement platforms with a "Country of Origin: USA" designation were found to be manufactured in China or contain Chinese components. AbilityOne has been given until November 12 to respond with corrected country-of-origin information and details on its ongoing review processes.
Beyond country-of-origin issues, the GSA's review is scrutinizing pricing structures and executive compensation within the nonprofits participating in the AbilityOne program. The agency noted that some AbilityOne-affiliated nonprofits can sell products to the government with markups as high as 55%. GSA alleges that certain products offer "limited or no meaningful employment or value added to the taxpayer" while nonprofit executives receive annual compensation that can exceed $1 million. This stands in contrast to an average annual salary of approximately $33,000 for blind workers, according to National Industries for the Blind data.
Previous legal actions involving AbilityOne nonprofits have also been highlighted. In 2020, Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired paid $1.9 million to settle federal allegations of false claims and kickbacks on government contracts. A separate 2021 settlement saw CW Resources pay $600,000 to resolve allegations of falsely certifying compliance with AbilityOne labor requirements.
The GSA is also investigating the "Essentially the Same" policy, which allows for substitutions of approved items. GSA fears this process may have been used to introduce foreign-made goods, displacing American products and circumventing federal purchasing rules.
The National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal advisor, has expressed concern that the AbilityOne program is a "policy relic" that is not adequately meeting its mission. NCD Acting Chair Neil Romano stated that the current situation is another example of the program's overall failings.
AbilityOne has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations and the call for an audit.