Young Introduces Bills to Protect American Biotechnology Infrastructure, Data from Malicious Actors
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chairman of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced two bills to protect biotechnology data and infrastructure from malicious actors.
The Protecting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing as Critical Infrastructure Act would ensure that biotechnology and biomanufacturing infrastructure is protected as critical infrastructure. It would establish a mechanism to cover cross-sector infrastructure that does not neatly fall within current Critical Infrastructure Sectors designations.
The Protecting Biological Data as Critical Infrastructure Act would ensure coverage of genetic and other sensitive biometric data with the proper cybersecurity controls. The bill directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to designate systems handling genomic sequences and sensitive biometric data as critical infrastructure and also mandates collaboration between CISA and biotechnology stakeholders to create security protocols and synchronize security concerns across sectors.
“Biotechnology infrastructure and data are becoming vital to America’s economic and national security,” said NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.). “Just as we are serious about where the sensitive data of Americans is stored and who can access it, we should be equally serious about protecting our biological data and infrastructure. Designating biotech as critical infrastructure is about recognizing its strategic importance and making sure the capabilities America will depend on tomorrow remain resilient and protected from foreign threats.”
“Cyberattacks that target the genetic information and other personal health information of Americans can have devastating consequences for patients, providers, and our national security. As we continue to see increasingly sophisticated attacks, it’s important that our cybersecurity agencies have the tools that they need to protect American biotechnology and our public health,” said Senator Hassan (D-N.H.). “I am glad to introduce these bipartisan, commonsense bills that will keep Granite Staters healthy and safe.”
In its April 2025 report to Congress, the NSCEB assessed that malicious actors will increasingly target the biotechnology sector’s infrastructure and data. Critical biotechnology infrastructure, such as hospitals and agricultural facilities, have already faced numerous cyberattacks. Biological data are not currently treated or protected as a strategic national resource. These bills reflect NSCEB recommendations.
The bills were also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), and Scott Peters (D-CA-50).
A detailed summary of both bills can be found here.
The full text of the Protecting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing as Critical Infrastructure Act can be found here, and the Protecting Biological Data as Critical Infrastructure Act here.