Article

U.S. Biosecurity Policy during Trump’s Second Term under the “America First” Framework

By: Siyuan Pan^*

Institute of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China.

^*Corresponding author

Received: 2026-07-31Accepted: 2026-08-14Published: 2026-10-10

J. Int. Eco. Glo. Gov. 2026, 3(3), 94-113; https://doi.org/10.58244/jiegg.263990

Abstract

This paper examines how the second Trump administration reshaped U.S. biosecurity policy under the “America First” framework and translated its priorities into military biotechnology programs. Drawing on the Copenhagen School’s securitization theory, this paper conducts a qualitative analysis of executive orders, strategic documents, departmental budget justification materials, and official program information. It also examines the Digital Biosecurity Forge (DB-FORGE), the Biological Threat Reduction Program, and selected DARPA biotechnology programs as case studies. The study finds that the administration did not establish a completely new biosecurity system. Instead, it redirected existing institutions toward domestic resilience, technological advantages, and operational relevance through organizational restructuring, specialized platforms, budget adjustments, and security reviews. This paper contributes to existing research by explaining how the securitization of biotechnology moves from policy discourse to specific program implementation. The findings also show that transparent review standards and continued international communication are essential for managing the security implications of biotechnology.

Keywords: Trump’s Second Administration; Global biosecurity governance; Biosecurity policy; Military biotechnology

Full Text

Download the full text PDF for viewing and using it according to the license of this paper.

Funding

None.

References

The White House. (2025, January 20). Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (Executive Order). https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-the-worldhealth-organization/
World Health Organization. (2025, May 21). Withdrawal of Member States: Report by the Director-General (A78/33 Add.1). https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_33Add1-en.pdf
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. (n.d.). Biological Weapons Convention. https://disarmament.unoda.org/biological-weapons/
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). (2025, June). Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Defense-Wide, Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Estimates. https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2026/budget_justification/pdfs/03_RDT_and_E/RDTE_Vol1_DARPA_MasterJustificationBook_PB_2026.pdf
Liu, C. and Song, M. (2020). U.S. biodefense policy and national security. Journal of International Security Studies, 38(3), 96-126.
Koblentz, G. D. (2010). Biosecurity reconsidered: Calibrating biological threats and responses. International Security, 34(4), 96-132. https://doi.org/10.1162/isec.2010.34.4.96
Smith, F. L., III. (2014). American Biodefense: How Dangerous Ideas about Biological Weapons Shape National Security. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. https://cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9780801452710/american-biodefense/
Vogel, K. M. (2013). Phantom Menace or Looming Danger? A New Framework for Assessing Bioweapons Threats. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/10403/phantom-menace-or-looming-danger
Ding, C., Chen, F. and Zhang, Z. (2020). The biosecurity strategy and planning framework of the United States and its implications and recommendations. World Sci-Tech R&D, 42(3), 253-264. https://cdn.sciengine.com/doi/pdf/C99109DD91AF4C55A0688486834925A6
Jin, J. (2016). An analysis of the U.S. global health security strategy. Journal of International Security Studies, (1).
Davies, S. E. (2008). Securitizing infectious disease. International Affairs, 84(2), 295-313. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2346.2008.00704.x
Jin, J. and Wu, J. (2023). The Biden administration’s biosecurity policy and its “out-competing” biosecurity strategy toward China. Journal of International Security Studies, 41(4), 130-155.
Han, F. (2025). U.S. defense biomanufacturing strategy and its impact under great-power strategic competition. Strategic Decision Research, (3), 62-84, 141-142. https://zljc.cbpt.cnki.net/portal/journal/portal/client/paper/9aa832081758a2f5299d78b21b2f1598
Liu, M., Zhang, K., Yi, Y. and Zhang, Y. (2025). Progress in DARPA biotechnology projects in 2024. Military Medical Sciences, 49(10), 767-773. https://doi.org/10.7644/j.issn.1674-9960.2025.10.007
Bloomfield, D., Pannu, J., Zhu, A. W., et al. (2024). AI and biosecurity: The need for governance. Science, 385(6711), 831-833. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adq1977
U.S. Department of State. (2025, September). America First Global Health Strategy. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/America-First-Global-Health-Strategy-Report.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, March 27). HHS announces transformation to make America healthy again. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-restructuring-doge.html
The White House. (2025, May 5). Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research (Executive Order 14292). https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/improving-the-safety-and-security-of-biological-research/
The White House. (2025, May 5). Regulatory Relief to Promote Domestic Production of Critical Medicines (Executive Order). https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/regulatory-relief-to-promote-domestic-production-of-critical-medicines/
BioMADE. (2025, April 29). BioMADE announces at least $132 million investment in Minnesota demonstration-scale biomanufacturing facility. https://www.biomade.org/news/biomade-announces-mn-demo-scale-facility
BioMADE. (2025, August 5). BioMADE announces $6.4 million investment to advance defense products. https://www.biomade.org/news/biomade-announces-64-million-investment-to-advance-defense-products
The White House. (2025, July). America’s AI Action Plan. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Americas-AI-Action-Plan.pdf
U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division. (2025, April 8). Data Security Program. https://www.justice.gov/nsd/data-security
National Institutes of Health. (2025, April 2). Implementation update: Protecting U.S. biomedical intellectual innovation (NOT-OD-25-083). https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-083.html
National Institutes of Health. (2025, May 22). Protecting human genomic data when developing generative artificial intelligence tools and applications. https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2025/05/protecting-human-genomic-data-when-developing-generative-artificial-intelligence-tools-and-applications
The White House. (2025, December). National Security Strategy of the United States of America. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf
The White House. (2025, February 21). America First Investment Policy (Presidential Memorandum). https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/america-first-investment-policy/
The White House. (2025, February 13). United States-India Joint Leaders’ Statement. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/02/united-states-india-joint-leaders-statement/
The White House. (2025, October 29). The United States signs Technology Prosperity Deals with Japan and Korea. https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2025/10/the-united-states-signs-technology-prosperity-deals-with-japan-and-korea/
The White House. (2018, September). National Biodefense Strategy. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Biodefense-Strategy.pdf
The White House. (2022, October). National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan for Countering Biological Threats, Enhancing Pandemic Preparedness, and Achieving Global Health Security. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/National-Biodefense-Strategy-and-Implementation-Plan-Final.pdf
U.S. House of Representatives, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. (2024, December 4). After Action Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2024.12.04-SSCP-FINAL-REPORT-ANS.pdf
Office of the Director of National Intelligence. (2026, March). 2026 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community. https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2026-Unclassified-Report.pdf
U.S. Congress. (2025, December 18). National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119-60). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ60/html/PLAW-119publ60.htm
The White House. (2025, November 24). Launching the Genesis Mission (Executive Order 14363). https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/11/launching-the-genesis-mission/
U.S. Department of War. (2026, July 22). Department of War partners with the Genesis Mission to proliferate AI for science. https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4551998/department-of-war-partners-with-the-genesis-mission-to-proliferate-ai-for-scien/
The White House. (2025, February 26). Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Cost Efficiency Initiative (Executive Order 14222). https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency-cost-efficiency-initiative/
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). (2025, June). Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide, Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Estimates. https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2026/budget_justification/pdfs/01_Operation_and_Maintenance/O_M_VOL_1_PART_1/DTRA_OP-5.pdf
U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). (2025, June). Operation and Maintenance Overview, Volume 1, Part 1, Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Estimates. https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/FY2026/budget_justification/pdfs/01_Operation_and_Maintenance/O_M_VOL_1_PART_1/OM_Volume1_Part1.pdf
Buzan, B., Wæver, O. and de Wilde, J. (1998). Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.