US Government's Push to Prevent Extremists from Accessing Hazardous Chemicals
The US government is urging Congress to renew the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, which expired on July 28, to ensure the safety of chemical facilities and prevent dangerous substances from falling into the hands of extremists. The program requires facilities to report information on certain chemicals and undergo inspections to ensure compliance with security measures. Without CFATS, there are concerns about national security vulnerabilities and the potential for terrorists to access and weaponize dangerous chemicals. The lapse in the program has left the Department of Homeland Security without a vital security tool, and industry representatives are also worried about the loss of employee vetting through DHS' terrorist databases.