This year marks a solemn milestone: the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It is a stark reminder of the painful and costly lessons learned from that day, and of the enduring responsibility to remain vigilant against evolving threats. As we reflect on the lives lost and the sacrifices made in the years since, we should also remember that combating terrorism can never be placed on the back burner.
Against this backdrop, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published an important new report entitled “Chemical Security: DHS Should Provide Options for Voluntary Vetting of Facility Personnel for Terrorist Ties.” As the title suggests, it offers an important look at the tools needed to support counterterrorism efforts.
The report underscores the value of personnel vetting as part of a comprehensive approach to chemical facility security and recommends that policymakers explore options for restoring a capability that was lost when the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program expired in 2023. For more than 15 years, CFATS provided chemical facilities with a process for screening personnel against the federal government's terrorist screening database, an important security tool that companies cannot replicate on their own.
The value of this capability is reflected in the experiences of chemical manufacturers. In a 2024 ACC member survey, 75% of respondents said vetting personnel against the Terrorist Screening Database was important to security at their facilities.
GAO's recommendation that DHS restore access to a federal vetting process deserves serious consideration and would provide an important tool to combat terrorism and bolster national security.
ACC appreciates GAO's attention to this issue and willingness to engage with stakeholders. As policymakers consider the report's findings, we encourage them to develop a solution that reinstates personnel vetting capabilities and supports the longstanding partnership between government and industry to help safeguard critical infrastructure and strengthen America's security.