Commission warns U.S. biotech leadership at risk; urges regulatory overhaul, data hubs and manufacturing investment

Senator Todd Young, chair of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, told the House Committee on Armed Services that "the United States needs to lead on biotechnology and our leadership is indeed in jeopardy," urging Congress and the Department of Defense to act quickly to maintain a competitive edge.

The commission's final report, Young said, lays out short-term and multi-year recommendations to accelerate U.S. innovation, shield strategic biological data and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. "Our strategy is twofold: make America innovate faster and slow China down," he said, adding that the commission recommends dedicating significant resources over the next five years.

Why this matters: Commissioners and witnesses described biotechnology as a cross-cutting field with applications for defense, health care, agriculture and manufacturing. They warned that advances in AI-enabled biology could be applied to military systems, supply chains and pharmaceuticals, and that failing to respond…