Keeping China Off the Rails Act of 2026

What it does

• •Amends federal railroad law to impose manufacturing and content requirements on railroad freight cars transporting Department of Defense cargo, defined as goods moved by or for the Armed Forces.
• •Establishes a phase-in schedule requiring DoD cargo cars to meet certain standards: cars produced within 2 years (year 1), 5 years (year 2), 10 years (year 3), 15 years (year 4), and finally all cars after 4 years from enactment.
• •Provides exceptions from requirements for cars used in clandestine DoD operations or when owners are not notified in advance that their cars will carry DoD cargo.
• •Makes technical corrections to existing railroad law terminology and cross-references.

Why it matters

• •Restricts the use of foreign-manufactured railroad freight cars in Department of Defense supply chains, ostensibly to ensure security and domestic industrial capacity.
• •The phased implementation allows gradual compliance while protecting existing railroad equipment investments during the transition period.

Who is affected

• •Railroad carriers and freight car owners operating on the U.S. general railroad system who transport Department of Defense cargo.
• •The Department of Defense and Armed Forces in their procurement and logistics operations.
• •Domestic and foreign railroad freight car manufacturers.

What happens next

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for consideration.