Audit of AbilityOne Program Launched Amid Concerns
In a significant move, the Trump administration is initiating a comprehensive audit of products, pricing, and supply chains related to the AbilityOne program. This comes as an independent federal agency investigates claims that a company has been misrepresenting foreign products with Chinese technology as American-made.
A draft letter reviewed indicates that the General Services Administration (GSA) is instructing the U.S. AbilityOne Committee to confirm the country of origin for all items included in the Essential Sourcing List. The agency is also tasked with conducting a detailed audit to ensure compliance with federal laws and procurement policies.
“Federal tax dollars spent on the AbilityOne program should support jobs for Americans with visual impairments, not foreign competitors,” stated GSA Administrator Edward Forst.
AbilityOne is responsible for federal purchasing programs that aim to create job opportunities for individuals who are blind or severely disabled. Typically, federal agencies must buy from approved nonprofits listed by the AbilityOne Commission.
Forst expressed concerns over the AbilityOne product offerings, saying they pose serious national security risks and may undermine the program’s mission. “GSA will not allow questionable products to compromise the safety of federal markets,” he added.
The audit arises from President Trump’s executive order, which mandates truthful “Made in America” labeling across federal procurement. Forst’s department has pressured the AbilityOne Commission to adhere to this directive.
In a letter addressed to the commission’s chair, Christina Blunt, Forst emphasized the need for a prompt and thorough audit of all GSA-related items to verify their country of origin, pricing, and adherence to legal requirements.
Forst’s communication notes that the GSA has found several technology products associated with AbilityOne that are incorrectly marked as “Country of Origin: United States” while actually being produced in foreign nations like China.
AbilityOne has until November 16 to resolve GSA’s concerns, amend its country of origin claims, and clarify products listed with ambiguous origins. It’s crucial to establish ongoing review protocols to maintain accuracy.
“GSA expects the highest standards from all contractors,” concluded Forst’s letter. He has instructed actions to eliminate exceptions that permit the Commission to procure products from China and other non-allied countries.
Furthermore, there are additional issues being raised in the letter regarding pricing and compensation for executives at nonprofit organizations involved in AbilityOne. The GSA noted that these nonprofits could raise product prices significantly—up to 55%—and that some executives are earning over $1 million annually, which raises questions about the effectiveness of these organizations in creating real job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The GSA referenced data revealing that the average annual salary for blind workers is around $33,000, contrasting sharply with executive compensation at certain AbilityOne nonprofits, which ranges from $500,000 to over $1 million.
The situation is exacerbated by previous legal troubles faced by AbilityOne-related nonprofits, including settlements for false claims and kickbacks involving government contracts. For instance, the Wisconsin nonprofit Industry for the Blind and Visually Impaired paid $1.9 million in 2020 to settle federal allegations, while in 2021, CW Resources in Connecticut settled for $600,000 related to false certification claims.
As scrutiny of the AbilityOne program intensifies, questions regarding the allocation of federal contract revenues and executive compensation continue to surface. The National Council on Disabilities has expressed concerns regarding the program’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of Americans with disabilities, calling it a “policy relic” that fails to evolve.
Fox News Digital has sought a response from AbilityOne regarding these allegations and the requested audit but has not received any feedback yet.
Additionally, the GSA is reviewing AbilityOne’s policy that allows substitution of certain products with those already approved, which has led to foreign products replacing American-made items while still benefiting from federal procurement preferences.
