"A new source of compliant material has been identified and is being procured to replace the non-compliant material," said Jacqueline Lorenzetti, an F-35 media relations lead. "Lockheed Martin is working closely with the Joint Program Office to lift the delivery pause and allow aircraft deliveries to resume concurrent with the National Security Waiver approval process." The Department of Defense confirmed the magnet sourced from China does not provide any visibility to sensitive information or pose flight safety issues. "We have confirmed that the magnet does not transmit information or harm the integrity of the aircraft and there are no performance, quality, safety or security risks associated with this issue and flight operations for the F-35 in-service fleet will continue as normal," said Russell Goemaere, an F-35 Joint Program Office spokesperson. The leading defense contractor with a major Fort Worth presence also affirmed the setback will not pause assembly within the country.