Executive Order 13486: Strengthening Laboratory Biosecurity in the United States
President: George W. Bush
Created an interagency working group to strengthen security controls for laboratories handling dangerous biological agents.
Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13486 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13486 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 13486 do?
A 2012 federal select-agent rule discussed the working group's risk-based security effort and revised controls for Tier 1 agents.
Before and after
Before the order
Select-agent rules governed registration and security requirements for sensitive materials.
After the order
A 2012 federal select-agent rule discussed the working group's risk-based security effort and revised controls for Tier 1 agents.
The rule rests on statutory select-agent authority as well as the executive review; it does not cover every laboratory or organism.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Working Group on Strengthening the Biosecurity of the United States | Review laboratory security laws and practices, obtain appropriate advice, and submit findings, recommendations, oversight options, and comparisons of personnel-security programs. | Report through the co-chairs within 180 days of January 9, 2009; terminate 60 days after the report. |
| Secretary of Defense | Co-chair the group, convene meetings, set the agenda, and direct its work; provide necessary administrative support within legal and funding limits. | During the group’s operation; report within 180 days. |
| Secretary of Health and Human Services | Co-chair the group, convene meetings, set the agenda, and direct its work. | During the group’s operation; report within 180 days. |
| Secretary of State | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Attorney General | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Secretary of Agriculture | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Secretary of Commerce | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Secretary of Transportation | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Secretary of Energy | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Secretary of Homeland Security | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Director of National Intelligence | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Director of the National Science Foundation | Participate in the working group’s collective review and recommendations; may designate a qualified agency official to perform these functions. | During the group’s operation; no separate agency deadline. |
| Heads of departments and agencies | Cover representatives’ labor and travel costs and provide information and assistance to the extent legally permitted. | As needed for the working group’s work. |
| Later action | A 2012 federal select-agent rule discussed the working group's risk-based security effort and revised controls for Tier 1 agents. | October 5, 2012 |
What happened next
EO 13486 signed.
A 2012 federal select-agent rule discussed the working group's risk-based security effort and revised controls for Tier 1 agents.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The rule rests on statutory select-agent authority as well as the executive review; it does not cover every laboratory or organism.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- GovInfo — official executive-order record (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 26, 2026. How we research →