The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology announced on December 18, 2024, that the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act includes “a suite of recommendations designed to galvanize action on biotechnology” for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). According to the Commission, the bill includes new authorities and requirements — derived from its May 2024 proposals — that will position DOD and the intelligence community (IC) to maximize the benefits of biotechnology for national defense. The provisions require:
- DOD to create and publish an annual biotechnology roadmap, including assessing barriers to adoption of biotechnology, DOD workforce needs, and opportunities for international collaboration;
- DOD to initiate a public-private “sandbox” in which DOD and industry can securely develop use cases for artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology convergence (AIxBio);
- IC to conduct a rapid assessment of biotechnology in the People’s Republic of China and their actions to gain superiority in this sector; and
- IC to develop an intelligence strategy to identify and assess biotechnology threats, especially regarding supply chain vulnerabilities.
The Commission states that it worked with Congress to develop these proposals, setting the stage for further recommendations in early 2025.