Intelligence Community Gets Major New Biotech Capabilities in HPSCI–passed Intelligence Authorization Act
As biotechnology reshapes security and defense capabilities, America’s intelligence community must have the knowledge, tools, and strategies to stay ahead of emerging threats.
11, September 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) passed the FY2026 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) with three provisions focused on the impact of emerging biotechnologies on national security and intelligence community (IC). These provisions reflect the recommendations of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) and are key piece of the NSCEB’s action plan to chart the future of biotechnology and national security.
The provisions will enhance our national security and build a strong foundation for biotechnology knowledge and strategic planning within the IC, particularly around the use of biological data.
“As biotechnology advances, our intelligence agencies must be equipped to use, understand, and anticipate how it will impact America’s national security,” said NSCEB Vice Chair Michelle Rozo. “Our intelligence community must remain the best prepared and most agile in world as this technological capability comes to redefine global power dynamics.”
“Biotechnology is redefining the 21st century across defense, agriculture, health care, manufacturing, and more. Concerningly, our adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, recognize this potential and have blurred the lines between biotech’s commercial and military uses, which puts us in harm’s way. I’m proud to have led numerous provisions in the IAA to ensure our intelligence community understands our adversarial capabilities and prioritizes biotechnology across the agencies” said Representative Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair of the BIOTech Caucus and HPSCI member.
Legislative Overview:
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Sec. 404 – Designates a senior official responsible for activities related to biotechnology at different elements of the intelligence community, including ODNI, CIA, NSA, DIA, FBI, DOE-IN, DOS-BIR, and DHS-OIA.
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Sec. 803 – Directs the Director of National Intelligence and the National Intelligence Council to produce a National Intelligence Estimate on biotechnology advancements by the People’s Republic of China [within one year after enactment].
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Sec. 908 – Directs the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the intelligence community, to develop a plan for the intelligence community to use the proposed “web of biological data,” as outlined in recommendation 4.1a from the NSCEB’s April 2025 report.
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
