OSTP Prepares Upcoming Research Security Guidance

On August 10, Dr. Eric Lander, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced the Biden Administration’s intent to develop guidance for federal agencies to implement research security provisions over the following 90 days. The guidance would provide clear rules for federal agencies to comply with the National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-33), issued in the final days of the Trump Administration. Among other provisions, NSPM-33 recommends standard research security measures across federal research agencies and clarifies disclosure requirements of foreign support for federally-funded scientists (see previous COSSA coverage for more details). In addition, on August 11, leadership from OSTP and the National Science Foundation (NSF) met with a private forum of leaders from around the academic and research community to discuss feedback on the implementation guidance.

Lander’s announcement states the NSPM-33 guidance will address three major areas within research security:

1. disclosure policies for foreign funding and potential conflicts of interest,
2. oversight and enforcement policies for research security violations, and
3. support for research security programs at federally funded research organizations.

The announcement also asserts that while these policies are intended to counteract espionage efforts such as those undertaken by the Chinese government, efforts will be made to avoid fueling anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia. OSTP will be accepting community and stakeholder feedback on the NSPM-33 guidance at researchsecurity@ostp.eop.gov through the 90 days following the announcement.