# OSTP Signals Software Acquisition Shifts

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published the National Security Science and Technology Strategy in August 2026, placing software, AI tools, data flows, and software supply chains within a national-security policy framework. The strategy does not create immediate procurement rules, but it signals that future changes could affect federal acquisition requirements, export controls, investment reviews, and research-security policies.

- Contractors can prepare to document software provenance, control data flows, and clearly classify export-controlled items; the strategy identifies these as areas likely to matter in future policy decisions, not current new mandates.
- Procurement teams and suppliers should assess how software and AI supply chains are described in proposals and supporting documentation, particularly for national-security-related work.
- The strategy names no contract opportunity, funding amount, solicitation, or compliance deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Defense & Military
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
**Published:** October 21, 2026

### Government Entities
- White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

### Sources
- [NSSTS Targets Coding Tools With 8 Policy Areas [2026]](https://tech-insider.org/national-security-tech-strategy-coding-tools-2026) - https://tech-insider.org/