S. 854 would establish the Life Sciences Research Security Board as an independent executive branch agency to review and approve federal funding requests for what is termed high-risk life sciences research, which involves pathogens that are particularly dangerous to humans. The board’s members would be appointed by the President and subject to Senate confirmation.
The bill would require the board to receive funding proposals from federal agencies for projects or grant programs at least 30 days before a project or program is funded. Within 120 days, board members would be required to determine whether a proposal involves high‑risk life sciences research and, if so, whether the project requires biosafety controls to proceed. The board also could review and audit research projects using federal funds awarded before the bill’s enactment and could direct such funding to be suspended.
S. 854 would authorize appropriations of $30 million each year to operate the board, for a total of $300 million over the 2026-2035 period. Subject to appropriation of those specified amounts, CBO estimates that the cost to implement the bill would be $293 million over the 2026-2035 period.
CBO expects that the costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, would fall within budget function 550 (health), but that determination will be made by the Office of Management and Budget.
Table 1.
Estimated Spending Subject to Appropriation Under S. 854
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2025-2030
2025-2035
Authorization
0
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
150
300
Estimated Outlays
0
5
20
37
45
36
30
30
30
30
30
143
293
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Ryan Greenfield. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
