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Secretary initiates available enforcement actions to expedite production and prioritize military needs when remediation plans are insufficient or disputes are unresolved within the 15-day negotiation period.
Section 4(a) of the January 7, 2026 executive order "Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting" states that if a contractor’s remediation plan is deemed insufficient by the Secretary, or if the Secretary and the contractor cannot resolve an underperformance dispute within the 15‑day negotiation period, "the Secretary may initiate immediate actions" to secure remedies. The order specifies that these immediate actions may include, "to the maximum extent permitted by law," use of voluntary agreements, "available enforcement actions under the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.)," and "any available contract enforcement mechanisms" under the Federal Acquisition Regulations and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement. This directly matches the claim that the Secretary is authorized to initiate immediate enforcement-related actions, including use of the Defense Production Act and contract enforcement mechanisms, when remediation is insufficient or disputes remain unresolved after 15 days. Therefore, the verdict is True because the executive order explicitly grants the Secretary discretionary authority to initiate such immediate actions under those conditions, using the Defense Production Act and contract enforcement tools within existing legal limits.