SASC Recognizes Importance of Biotechnology in Shaping the Future of Conventional Warfare

Senate Armed Services Committee passes National Defense Authorization Act elevating biotechnology and improving warfighter access to safe and effective bio-enabled tools and products 

16 July 2025 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Washington, DC – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) passed the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with provisions designed to enhance the access and use of biotechnology across the Department. The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) delivered its final report to Congress in April and applauds the committee for its dedication to ensuring the United States is fully prepared for future security challenges.  

“The Commission’s work highlights the challenges of today’s geopolitical landscape and the pressing need to elevate biotechnology as a critical tool for enabling the next wave of conventional military innovation,” said NSCEB Chairman Sen. Todd Young (IN). “I am grateful to my colleagues on the SASC for their dedication to providing our men and women in uniform with the most cutting-edge tools and technologies, so they can continue to be successful on the battlefields of tomorrow.” 

NSCEB Commissioner Sen. Alex Padilla (CA) said, “The NSCEB recommendations are the result of more than two years of focused bipartisan efforts to build greater consensus in this critical area. We must be at the cutting edge of technology and innovation to maintain and enhance our national security. I am encouraged to see my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee heed our call to action for the security of our nation, the strength of our economy, and the well-being of our people. This is the kind of urgent bipartisan effort needed to push American biotechnology faster and harder towards achieving the greatest innovations of our age.” 

SASC Bill Language  

Subtitle D—Biotechnology 

• Sec. 231, Biotechnology Management Office, Establishes a Biotechnology Management Office, led by a senior DOD official, to foster the development, acquisition, and sustainment of biotechnology capabilities for the Department. 

• Sec. 232 DOD Biotechnology Strategy, Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a strategy on the national security implications of emerging biotechnologies, including: 

• -How the DOD will develop and expand a network of commercial facilities to biomanufacture products that are critical for defense needs; 

• -Review and update of military specifications to better incorporate or substitute current products with biotechnology-based products; 

• -Updated plans and policies for the DOD to enter into advance market commitments and offtake agreements for biotechnology products with defense applications; 

• -A description of how the DOD could better incorporate military-relevant applications of emerging biotechnology into wargaming exercises; 

• -A plan to issue a research grand challenge, or series of challenges, focused on making biotechnology predictably engineerable; 

• -The development of a biotechnology regulation science and technology program with the Department; 

• -Updated plans and policies to encourage NATO countries to aggregate demand and pool purchasing power for biotechnology products; and 

• -Review on how the DOD can work with NATO countries to utilize the combined research capabilities of member countries to drive a biotechnology development approach. 

• Sec. 233 Defining Guidelines and Policies on the Use of Biotechnology for the Armed Forces, Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop guidelines and policies on the ethical and responsible development and deployment of biotechnology within the DOD and the Armed Forces. 

SASC Funding Tables 

• Sec. 4201 Biotechnology for Materials, NSCEB Recommendation AI-Ready Biological Data (+5 million) 

• Sec. 4201 Defense Research Sciences, NSCEB Recommendation AI-Ready Biological Data (+5 million) 

• Sec. 4201 Materials, NSCEB Recommendation AI-Ready Biological Data (+5 million) 

• Sec. 4201 Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science & Technology Program, Biotechnology Manufacturing (+5 million) 

• Sec. 4201 Maintaining Technology Advantage, NSCEB Recommendation AIxBio Sandbox (+5 million) 

• Sec. 4601 Biomolecular Science & Synthetic Biology Laboratory at Naval Research Laboratory (+157 million)