Congress Launches Berry Amendment Caucus to Protect Domestic Military Textile Manufacturing

A bipartisan Berry Amendment Caucus has been launched in the U.S. House of Representatives, co-chaired by Representatives Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) and Don Davis (D-N.C.). The caucus aims to strengthen domestic defense manufacturing and protect the American military textile supply chain—an industry producing more than $1.8 billion annually in uniforms and equipment for the U.S. military.

What Is the Berry Amendment?

The Berry Amendment is a statutory requirement that the Department of Defense procure certain items—including textiles, clothing, footwear, and food—that are produced entirely in the United States. Originally enacted in 1941, the amendment ensures that critical military supplies are manufactured domestically, protecting both national security interests and American manufacturing jobs.

For the textile industry specifically, the Berry Amendment requires that every stage of production occurs in the U.S.: from fiber and yarn production, through weaving and finishing, to the final cut-and-sew operations. This end-to-end domestic requirement has sustained a robust military textile manufacturing base across the country.

Why the Caucus Matters Now

The formation of the Berry Amendment Caucus comes at a critical time for domestic textile manufacturers. The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Trump on December 18, 2025, raised the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) under the Berry Amendment from $150,000 to $200,000 following a DOD inflationary review. Contracts below this threshold are exempt from Berry Amendment requirements, meaning the Department of Defense can purchase foreign-made textiles for smaller procurements.

Industry groups including the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and the U.S. Industrial & Narrow Fabrics Institute (USINFI) have expressed strong support for the caucus, viewing it as an important counterweight to threshold increases that could erode domestic manufacturing capacity over time.

FY2026 NDAA: Key Textile Provisions

Beyond the SAT adjustment, the FY2026 NDAA includes Section 865, which directs the Secretary of Defense to pursue “public-private partnerships and investments into technological advancement of the domestic textile and footwear industrial base.” While the provision does not include specific funding, it signals Congressional recognition that domestic textile manufacturing capabilities require ongoing investment to remain competitive.

This is particularly relevant as military fabric specifications continue to evolve. Modern combat uniforms require advanced materials like NYCO ripstop blends with specific performance characteristics—flame resistance, infrared signature management, and near-infrared compliance—that demand sophisticated domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Impact on the Textile Supply Chain

For textile distributors and suppliers operating in the military and tactical markets, the Berry Amendment Caucus represents an important development. A strong domestic textile manufacturing base ensures reliable sourcing for Berry-compliant fabrics including:

• •NYCO 50/50 ripstop — The standard nylon-cotton blend used across U.S. military combat uniforms
• •Flame-resistant fabrics — Critical for combat applications where burn injury protection is required
• •Camouflage-printed textiles — OCP, Multicam, and other patterns requiring precise color matching and NIR compliance
• •Load-bearing and pack fabrics — High-tenacity nylons and CORDURA® materials for tactical gear

Looking Ahead

The Berry Amendment Caucus is expected to advocate for maintaining strong domestic content requirements in future defense authorization bills and to push for investments in textile manufacturing technology. With increasing geopolitical tensions highlighting the risks of supply chain dependence on foreign nations, the caucus has bipartisan support for ensuring the U.S. maintains its capability to produce the textiles and equipment its military needs.

For companies like K&T Textiles that operate within the military and tactical textile supply chain, these developments reinforce the importance of Berry Amendment compliance and domestic sourcing relationships. As specifications evolve and procurement thresholds shift, staying informed on legislative developments is essential for maintaining a competitive position in the defense textile market.