Congress Advances Biotechnology Provisions in Defense Policy Bills

Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees passed multiple provisions supporting Pentagon biotechnology programs during markups of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill. The measures aim to streamline procurement of biologically derived materials ranging from medical treatments to explosives.

The House Armed Services Committee approved at least eight significant biotech provisions on Tuesday. These items cover streamlined acquisition, bio-wargames, infrastructure expansion, and ethics guidelines. The committee added $34 million for biotech research and data collection across several categories.

As reported by industry sources, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed its version last week. The full bill text released Tuesday shows at least four major biotech provisions plus $25 million in research and data funding. SASC also allocated $137 million in Military Construction funding for the Navy Research Lab's Biomolecular Science & Synthetic Biology Laboratory. The House bill does not mention this facility.

Two SASC provisions direct the Defense Department to create a department-wide biotech advancement strategy and develop guidelines for ethical and responsible biotechnology development. HASC includes similar language with some differences.

A third SASC provision would establish a Biotechnology Management Office led by a senior official with relevant experience. This office would develop the strategy and coordinate biotech efforts across DoD. The House bill contains no direct equivalent.

The fourth SASC provision, not mentioned in last week's official summary, would authorize the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to coordinate biodefense efforts with allied nations.

The House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026 show significant momentum for biotechnology. Many provisions reflect recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, which released its final report in April.

Rep. Ro Khanna serves as an NCSEB commissioner and ranking Democrat on HASC's Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems subcommittee. That subcommittee passed four biotech provisions as amendments.

"This NDAA includes many recommendations from the comprehensive report we published last spring," Khanna said after the committee vote. "While we have much more work to do, particularly in matters that fall under the jurisdiction of other committees, this is an important and meaningful first step."

Many other biological process applications have languished without investment. Caitlin Frazer serves as NCSEB executive director. She told Breaking Defense that biotechnology extends beyond health applications.

"It's going to fundamentally transform our defense supply chains [and] reduce our dependence on inputs from countries that are our adversaries," Frazer explained.

The convergence of House and Senate support suggests biotechnology programs will receive substantial backing in the final NDAA. Differences between the two versions will need reconciliation during conference committee negotiations later this year.