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Biotechnology Breaks Through in FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act

Biotechnology Breaks Through in FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act 

With 17 new provisions, Committees embrace the critical role biotech plays in shaping the future of national security.    

9, December 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. –The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) celebrates the House and Senate Armed Services Committees’ conference report for the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes 17 provisions designed to increase the focus on emerging biotechnology across the defense and intelligence communities.

Legislative highlights include: 

  • Significantly elevating biotechnology leadership across the Department by establishing a Biotechnology Management Office reporting to the Deputy Secretary, 
  • Requiring a fresh emerging biotechnology strategy,  
  • Creating multiple new Department-wide programs to improve the development, manufacturing, and acquisition of biotechnology products.
  • Addressing the Department’s access to biotech solutions for critical defense needs, including throughout the supply chain,  
  • Requiring DOD to develop a plan to ensure biotechnology is used in ethical and responsible ways,  
  • Directing coordination with our NATO allies to improve access to biotech research and products,  
  • Establishing new biotech leads across the intelligence agencies, and 
  • Expanding intelligence gathering about China’s efforts to advance its own biotech interests. 

See below for a full breakdown of FY26 NDAA biotechnology provisions 

 

“I appreciate the Committees and leadership making biotechnology a priority and including multiple NSCEB recommendations in the final NDAA. Advancing U.S. leadership in biotech innovation and implementation is vital to our national security and economic competitiveness,” said NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young. 

“Emerging biotechnologies are already changing the way we prepare for and fight wars,” said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. “The NSCEB applauds the House and Senate for including legislation in this year’s NDAA to equip the Department of Defense with the authority and resources needed to ensure our warfighters have the biotechnology tools, training, and intelligence necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly changing global security environment. We look forward to continuing collaboration with our congressional colleagues to further strengthen U.S. national security through the increased adoption of biotechnology.” 

“Leadership in biotechnology is essential for national security. With my colleagues on the commission, I am proud to have secured provisions the final NDAA that will help pave America’s path toward economic and scientific leadership in the 21st-century economy,” said NSCEB Commissioner Rep. Ro Khanna. 

“The future of defense is already being reshaped by emerging technologies, including biotechnology. As a commissioner on the NSCEB, I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues to include provisions that ensure our warfighters have the resources needed to stay ahead of our adversaries on the battlefield of tomorrow,” said NSCEB Commissioner Rep. Stephanie Bice. 

“American biotech innovation has the power to transform industries across our economy, from agriculture and health care to defense and industrial manufacturing,” said NSCEB Commissioner Senator Alex Padilla. “We need a molecular moonshot to get ahead — and stay ahead — in driving the biotechnology revolution to technological leadership from competitors like China. I will keep working with the bipartisan Biotech Commission to advance our national security and supercharge our economy.” 

 

FY 2026 NDAA BIOTECHNOLOGY PROVISIONS 

DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS  

TITLE II—RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION  

Subtitle C—Biotechnology Matters  

  • Sec. 241, Support for R&D of Bioindustrial Manufacturing Processes, Authorizes research funds to carry out the design and construction of bioindustrial manufacturing facilities.  
  • Sec. 242, Biotechnology Management Office, Establishes a Biotechnology Management Office, led by a senior DOD official who reports to the Deputy Secretary, to foster the development, acquisition, and sustainment of biotechnology capabilities for the Department.   
  • Sec. 243, Bioindustrial Commercialization Program, Authorizes DOD to establish a program to incentivize private sector expansion of infrastructural capacity across the U.S. to manufacture bioindustrial products at commercial scale that are critical for defense and national security needs.   
  • Sec. 244, Biotechnology Supply Chain Resiliency Program, Authorizes the DOD to establish a program to serve as an accelerator for biotechnology and advanced biomanufacturing solutions to create domestic supply chains for defense materials.    
  • Sec. 245, Biological Data for Artificial Intelligence, Directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and heads of research laboratories, to develop and implement requirements for biological data to be collected and stored in a manner that facilitates their use in artificial intelligence.  
  • Sec. 246, 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;   
    • Review of how the DOD could better incorporate military-relevant applications of emerging biotechnology into wargaming exercises;   
    • The benefits and costs of issuing 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;   
    • Review of how the DOD can work with NATO countries to utilize the combined research capabilities of member countries to drive a biotechnology development approach;  
    • Review of the feasibility and advisability of using cloud computing methods to safely store biological data; and  
    • Development of a training program for all members of the Armed Forces, civilian employees, and contractors whose duties involve biotechnology.    
  • Sec. 247, Ethical and Responsible Development and Deployment of Biotechnology, Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue policies and guidelines on the ethical and responsible development and deployment of biotechnology within the DOD.  
  • Sec. 248, Establishing Biobased Product Merit Guidance, Requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to make publicly available guidance on how private entities can effectively demonstrate that a biobased product meets DOD requirements.  

 

TITLE VIII—ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS  

Subtitle E—Prohibitions and Limitations on Procurement 

  • Sec. 851, Prohibition on Contracting with Certain Biotechnology Providers, Prohibits executive agencies from procuring or obtaining any biotechnology equipment or service produced or provided by a biotechnology company of concern.  

  

DIVISION F—INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026  

TITLE LXVI—ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND OTHER EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 

Subtitle B—Biotechnology  

  • Sec. 6611, Senior Officials for Biotechnology, Designates a senior official responsible for activities related to biotechnology at different elements of the Intelligence Community, including ODNI, CIA, NSA, DIA, FBI, and DOE-IN.   
  • Sec. 6612, Plan on Enhanced Intelligence Sharing on Biotechnological Threats, Directs the Director of National Intelligence to establish a policy for streamlining the declassification or downgrading and sharing of intelligence information relating to biotechnological developments and threats with allies and partners, private sector partners, and across the federal government.   
  • Sec. 6613, Enhancing Biotechnology Talent within the Intelligence Community, Directs the Director of National Intelligence to develop and implement a planto ensure existing and future funding and resources to the Intelligence Community provide for sufficient personnel and outside expertise, including private sector experts, to identify and respond to biotechnology threats.   
  • Sec. 6614, Enhanced Intelligence Community Support to Secure U.S. Biological Data, Directs the Director of National Intelligence to provide support to and consult with the FBI and CFIUS when reviewing attempts by the People’s Republic of China to leverage and acquire biological and genomic data in and outside of the U.S., enhancing the security of U.S. datasets.  
  • Sec. 6615, Ensuring Intelligence Community Procurement of Domestic Synthetic DNA and RNA, Directs the Director of National Intelligence to establish a policy to ensure that elements of the Intelligence Community that procure synthetic DNA or RNA from domestic sources do not contract with Chinese biotechnology suppliers or supply chain intermediaries.  
  • Sec. 6616, Strategy for Addressing Intelligence Gaps on Chinese Investment in U.S. Biotechnology, Requires the Director of National Intelligence to develop a strategy for addressing intelligence gaps relating to China’s investment in U.S. biotechnology companies or acquisition of U.S. biotechnology IP.   

  

TITLE LXVII—MATTERS RELATING TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES   

Subtitle A—Matters Relating to China  

  • Sec. 6703 – Prohibition on Intelligence Community Contracting with Chinese Military Companies Engaged in Biotechnology, Prohibits the Intelligence Community from contracting with Chinese military companies engaged in biotechnology research, development, or manufacturing.   
  • Sec. 6708 – National Intelligence Estimate of Chinese Advancements in Biotechnology, Directs the Director of National Intelligence, through the National Intelligence Council, to produce a National Intelligence Estimate on biotechnology advancements by the People’s Republic of China within one year.  

About NSCEB: The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov. 

Contacts:

NSCEB: press@biotech.senate.gov