It was announced by the Department of Defense in April that military recruits would begin using athletic shoes entirely made and manufactured in the US. The announcement was made considering a law that Congress passed in 1941.

The law called the department for giving preference to goods made in the US. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines still didn't purchase any sneaker, as per the standards of the 1941 law, called the Berry Amendment. They have not taken any step in this direction even after more than a year of announcement.

According to Matthew LeBretton, New Balance's vice president of public affairs, the delays are certainly intentional "payback" for companies that have been asking for the change for years.

According to LeBretton, "We've pushed and pushed to the point where we're at now, and we're still encountering tremendous resistance. They're not used to being pushed that way and I think that's engendered this animosity".

As per Mark Wright, a spokesman for the Department of Defense, the department is testing Berry-compliant sneakers.

Wright added that they have paid attention to this since last year when the new policy went into effect and it is not being slow-rolled in any way and they are making efforts to respond to the requirements of their forces.

According to reports, the US Coast Guard that is controlled by the Department of Homeland Security has already taken steps to abide by the Berry Amendment although it is not under the Pentagon's revised policy.