White House Issues Executive Order on Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research

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White House Issues Executive Order on Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research

Posted on May 6, 2025May 8, 2025

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On May 5, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research , which pauses dangerous research that could or will make a naturally occurring pathogen or toxin more dangerous to American citizens, and directs the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Security Advisor to work with funding agencies to develop such a policy within 120 days. This new Policy is intended to replace the 2024 United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (DURC/PEPP Policy) and supersedes its implementation at NIH previously set to take effect today.

NIH will work closely with OSTP and our federal partners to ensure the safe and secure conduct of biological research. NIH will also provide more guidance regarding implementation of this Executive Order in the coming weeks.

Questions may be sent to SciencePolicy@od.nih.gov . If you are not yet a subscriber to this listserv, please sign up here.