| Commission overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2022 |
| Commission executives |
|
| Parent department | United States Congress |
| Website | Official website |
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) is a bipartisan U.S. legislative commission established by Congress in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. [1]
The NSCEB reviews how emerging biotechnology affects U.S. Department of Defense activities and matters of national security. It was charged with submitting an interim report within one year and a final unclassified report within two years, including recommendations for Congress and the federal government. [2] [3]
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology was announced in March 2022 [4] and issued its report and recommendations to Congress in April 2025. [5] [6]
The NSCEB is composed of appointed commissioners:
The Commission submitted its first report to Congress in December 2023 [20] which included recommendations related to agriculture policy for potential inclusion in the Farm Bill. [21]
In December 2023, NSCEB published its interim report, which discusses the potential applications of biotechnology in fields such as human health, food security, energy production, and economic development. The report stresses the need for the U.S. to stay ahead in biotechnology as international competition increases. [22] [23]
In January 2024, the Commission published white papers on the integration of artificial intelligence and biotechnology ("AIxBio"). [24] The Commission noted that AIxBio research would transform the speed and scope of emerging biotechnology innovation. [25]
In May 2024, members of Congress introduced several pieces of legislation recommended by the Commission focused on food security and agricultural security. [26]
In December 2024, several NSCEB policy ideas were passed into law as part of the FY25 NDAA. [27] [28]
In February 2025, the Special Competitive Studies Project announced a joint event to be held in April 2025 with the NSCEB to mark the publication of the Commission's final policy report. [29]
In April 2025, the Commission published its final report to Congress. [30] [31] The report called for a minimum of $15 billion in federal spending over five years to secure American leadership in biotechnology, spanning policy areas including defense spending, product regulation, and infrastructure. [32] [33] The report indicated that the United States needs to both innovate faster and slow down the People's Republic of China. [34] The policy recommendations include elevating biotechnology as a strategic national priority, getting more U.S. biotechnology products to market, maximizing biotechnology for defense, being the global innovation leader, building a biotechnology workforce, and working more on biotechnology with allies and partners. [35]
On April 9, 2025, the NSCEB's Congressional Commissioners introduced the National Biotechnology Initiative Act, legislation based on report recommendations to create a National Biotechnology Coordination Office at the White House. [36] [37]
As of September 2025, about half of the NSCEB's recommendations from the April 2025 report had been introduced as bills in Congress. [38] [39]