Hawley demands faster implementation of TikTok ban on government devices

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) wants OMB director Shalanda Young to hurry up and implement the ban on the use of TikTok on government devices that was passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden last year.

“I write to urge the Biden Administration to expeditiously implement the recently enacted No TikTok on Government Devices Act,” he wrote to Young on Friday.

The law was included in the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill and became law on Dec. 29 after being introduced in March 2020.

“This law requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to develop standards for executive agencies to remove TikTok and any successor application from government devices within 60 days,” Hawley said. “Unfortunately, I have yet to see any signs of progress from your agency in developing these standards.”

“Removing TikTok from government devices is a critical first step to improving U.S. cybersecurity,” he added. “TikTok remains a serious threat to national security.”

Hawley wants to see TikTok banned nationally because the Chinese-owned app is a national security threat.