BIS ‘Talent Drain' Alarms Lawmaker
Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, which oversees the Bureau of Industry and Security, said Nov. 20 that she’s concerned that recent personnel departures at BIS have caused a “talent drain” at the export control agency.
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BIS “is losing talent to a devastating degree,” she said during a subcommittee hearing. “We can have all the policies in the world, but if we don’t have the talent that’s smart enough to figure out how to enforce them and how to enact them, then we’re not going to get very far.”
Johnson, who noted that her congressional district includes the headquarters of chipmaker Texas Instruments, said lawmakers should push the Trump administration to replenish the BIS workforce, which has lost dozens of longtime and senior employees this year (see 2511190045).
Kevin Wolf, former assistant secretary of commerce for export administration at BIS, testified that Congress should help the agency hire more subject-matter experts in AI, semiconductors, chipmaking tools and biotechnology. “In order for there to be thoughtful policy in these really complex areas, they need a lot more subject-matter experts and bipartisan support,” said Wolf, who's now part of Akin's international trade group.
Johnson said BIS not only needs more technology experts but also people knowledgeable about China, Russia and Iran. “Absolutely,” Wolf replied. “Mandarin speakers, people with intel experience, people who can support the enforcement efforts.”
Also during the hearing, Johnson said she’s working on a bill to protect whistleblowers who report export control violations, and she would welcome bipartisan support. “I would love to review that legislation,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., the subcommittee’s chairman. The Senate Appropriations Committee endorsed a similar proposal in July (see 2507100053).