National Security Biotechnology Workforce Training Act
The National Security Biotechnology Workforce Training Act would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to create and run a biotechnology-focused training program within one year of enactment. The program would target military personnel, DoD civilian employees, and contractors whose duties involve creating or deploying biotech, analyzing threats, or managing related research, development, engineering, testing, and procurement. The training would cover biotechnology basics, AI and other emerging technologies, defense and security applications, ethical and legal considerations, risk mitigation, and future trends at the intersection of biotechnology with other technologies. It would be interactive, include learning from private, public, and nonprofit experts, and be accessible through professional military education institutions. The act also requires annual participation, ongoing updates, continuing education, performance tracking, a required report to Congress, and a five-year sunset. The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Rep. Houlahan (joined by Rep. Bacon) and referred to the Armed Services Committee. Definitions include AI as defined in the National AI Initiative Act of 2020, and “covered Armed Force” covering the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a DoD biotechnology workforce training program within one year of enactment for military members, DoD civilians, and contractors whose duties involve biotechnology, defense-related tech, or related activities.
- 2Training scope includes core biotechnology concepts, how biotechnology intersects with AI and other emerging technologies, defense and national security applications across multiple sectors, and ethical, social, and legal implications.
- 3Training content emphasizes government roles in supporting, funding, procuring, and deploying biotechnology, as well as risk mitigation to ensure reliable, safe, and trustworthy technologies; includes future trends and convergence with AI, quantum computing, autonomous systems, and more.
- 4Participatory and adaptive design: annual participation, interactive learning with external scholars/experts, access to professional military education programs (e.g., National Defense University), and annual program updates to reflect advances.
- 5Accountability and sunset: DoD must measure participation and collect feedback, provide a Congress-mapped plan within six months of enactment, and the entire program terminates five years after establishment.