Are the TACs Next to be Cut?

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) may be preparing for the elimination of the Technical Advisory Committees (TACs)  which have long defined the collaborative nature of  export enforcement and trade security.   Of the six TACs chartered, only one, Emerging Technologies, has successfully held a meeting this year.  All other TACs have cancelled or postponed meetings for the first quarter.

TACs advise the Department of Commerce on the technical parameters for export controls applicable to dual-use commodities and technology and on the administration of those controls.   Authorized in Supplement No. 2 to Part 730 of the EAR, the committees are chartered bu the Assistant Secretary for Export Administration and shall meet at least once every three months. TACs may be extended or terminated only after consultation with the committee.

The TAC webpage remains at bis.doc.gov, including a schedule for meetings thorugh the end of the year.  

14 Commerce Advisory Committees Terminated

There are approximately 60 plus Federal Advisory Committees in the Department of Commerce that are established and operated in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which governs the creation and operation of Federal Advisory Committees (FAC).  FACA is implemented Government-wide by the General Services Administration (GSA), which has issued regulations and guidance.

The Department of Commerce has recently terminated fourteen advisory committees, including:

• Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC): This committee provided guidance on statistical methodologies related to economic data, including inflation, employment, and gross domestic product. Its termination was effective February 28, 2025. 

• Bureau of Economic Analysis Advisory Committee: This group offered consultation on various economic data analyses. It was also disbanded effective February 28, 2025. 

• Census Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC): Comprising demographers, statisticians, and advocacy group leaders, CSAC provided technical expertise to the Census Bureau. Members were notified of its termination on March 4, 2025. 

• 2030 Census Advisory Committee: Established to advise on planning and implementation strategies for the 2030 Census, this committee was disbanded on March 4, 2025. 

• National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations (NAC): Focused on issues related to racial and ethnic populations, this committee’s scheduled meeting for May 1-2, 2025, was canceled, indicating its termination. 

• Advisory Committee on Excellence in Space (ACES): This committee, which provided insights on space commerce, had its March 5, 2025, meeting canceled, suggesting its disbandment. 

Export Council Still Standing?

The President's Export Council, "the principal national advisory committee on international trade," according the the trade.gov website, has made no announcements about activities since December.

Originally established  1976, the President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration (PECSEA) was reestablished in January 2024 with a mandate to advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters related to export controls.  

Complete listing of Committees Discontinued so far