Securing Federal Devices from Chinese Applications Act

Key Points

• Would ban downloading or using apps tied to China on any federal government device, with limited exceptions.
• Agency leaders could allow an exception only for a required research or intelligence need, and only with controlled access.
• Agencies must create written guidance within 270 days on how exceptions work, including cybersecurity safeguards and steps to reduce risk.
• The budget office, working with homeland security, defense, and intelligence leaders, must set rules within 180 days for building and updating the banned-app list every 180 days.
• Once an app is put on the covered list, each agency must remove it from federal devices within 60 days.