House lawmakers fail to pass BOOTS Act in 38-18 vote

The U.S. military has purchased approximately 1 million pairs of foreign-made combat boots that do not comply with the Berry Amendment, a loophole a recent bill failed to close. This means American troops continue to wear boots produced overseas, despite efforts to prioritize domestic suppliers.

House lawmakers rejected the bipartisan Better Outfitting Our Troops Act (BOOTS) in 2026, a bill specifically designed to mandate American-made alternatives. The decisive 38-18 vote, reported by WWD, ensures a significant loophole remains open, allowing millions of foreign-made military boots to enter the supply chain. A legislative preference against mandating domestic-only procurement, prioritizing sourcing flexibility over national security interests tied to a robust domestic supply chain, is signaled by this outcome.

The U.S. military's reliance on foreign-made combat boots, enabled by existing loopholes, appears likely to continue, potentially undermining domestic manufacturing efforts and leaving American producers at a measurable disadvantage.

The Loophole Allowing Foreign Boots

• Approximately 1 million pairs of foreign-made boots that are not Berry Amendment-compliant have been purchased, according to WWD.

This volume of non-compliant foreign purchases exposes a systemic flaw in the Berry Amendment. The House's decisive 38-18 vote against the BOOTS Act reveals this 'loophole' is not an oversight, but a deliberate, protected channel for military procurement, signaling a deeper resistance to domestic manufacturing mandates than previously understood.

The Failed Bid for 'Made in America'

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski's bipartisan, bicameral Better Outfitting Our Troops Act (BOOTS Act) was initially included in national defense legislation, according to Budzinski House. Broad recognition of the issue was demonstrated by this inclusion itself.

Despite this bipartisan backing, the BOOTS Act's legislative defeat means the U.S. military will continue to prioritize procurement flexibility over national security interests tied to a robust domestic supply chain, leaving American manufacturers at a measurable disadvantage.