A bill to provide for an audit and mitigation of covered cellular modules in the Department of Defense systems and infrastructure.

What happened: On September 29, 2026, Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced S5598, a bill directing the DoD to audit and mitigate covered cellular modules in its systems and infrastructure. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. It has no cosponsors and no further action. Money trail: The bill does not authorize or appropriate any specific funding. It mandates an audit and mitigation plan, which could lead to future procurement actions if passed, but no dollars are attached at this stage. Convergence: No related legislative or executive actions directly converge with this bill. Structural winners and losers: At this early stage, no specific companies can be identified as clear winners or losers. If the bill advances, companies supplying cellular modules to DoD (e.g., via prime contractors) could face scrutiny, while US-based module manufacturers might benefit from any restrictions on foreign-made modules. However, these are speculative. Timeline: The bill must pass the Senate Armed Services Committee, then the full Senate, then the House (or a companion bill), and be signed by the President. Given the early stage and lack of momentum, passage in this Congress is uncertain.