The MedShield Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create and run a standing pandemic preparedness and response program called the MedShield program. The program would use artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies to build a national biodefense system—collecting and coordinating innovations from the public-private sector and international partners to detect, track, prevent, and respond to biological threats. It is designed to function continuously and be less dependent on ad hoc efforts like the prior Warp Speed program, by integrating AI-driven capabilities across surveillance, vaccine development, therapeutics, modeling, and rapid manufacturing. The act would also require a plan integrating recommendations from the National Security Commission on AI, and a reporting requirement to Congress within 180 days of enactment, plus multi-year funding through 2029.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the MedShield program under HHS to implement AI-enabled pandemic preparedness and response, creating a continuous “medical shield” that gathers innovations from the U.S. public-private ecosystem and international partners to protect public health.
- 2Requires a plan to integrate National Security Commission on AI recommendations and coordination with relevant federal agencies, along with engagement with allies and international partners for a coordinated global effort.
- 3Mandates specific AI-enabled capabilities, including: real-time global pathogen surveillance; AI-assisted vaccine identification and development; AI-enabled therapeutics; advanced modeling for tracking, vaccination, and treatment strategies; and accelerated, streamlined manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics.
- 4Imposes a reporting requirement: within 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must submit an unclassified plan (with a classified annex possible) to Congress detailing how the program will be implemented.
- 5Provides multi-year funding: appropriations totaling $300 million (2025) through $500 million (2029), to remain available until expended.