US Federal Agency Profiles

This guide is a starting point for exploring AI policy careers in the executive branch. It reviews key policy areas and agency roles and highlights key considerations to inform your career planning. --- Outline: (01:57) What is AI policy? (03:53) Mapping the federal AI ecosystem (08:03) What agencies work on in AI policy (08:53) Chip export controls as a case study in government coordination (14:1...

USDA develops and executes federal policies on agriculture, forestry, and rural economic development, aiming to support farmers and ensure a safe food supply. USDA contributes to biosecurity and advances food innovation, including alternative proteins, to enhance food security and sustainability. --- Outline: (00:23) Overview (02:32) Background on USDA (04:07) Organizational structure (05:11) Food...

NSC coordinates the government’s national security enterprise, designs short- and long-term national security strategies, and advises the president on national security matters. --- Outline: (00:56) Overview (02:22) Background on NSC (04:14) Policy councils (05:15) Organizational structure (05:46) Directorates (08:33) Leadership and staff (11:12) Managing the interagency process (13:24) NSC and AI...

NEC and DPC advise the president and coordinate policymaking processes for economic and domestic issues. Both have supported the development and implementation of major AI or biosecurity policy initiatives. --- Outline: (00:12) Overview (01:09) Background on NEC and DPC (02:42) Organizational structure (03:12) Council members (04:30) Council staff (06:18) Activities (09:07) The honest brokers (12:...

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) is a group of offices and councils that support the president in directing the executive branch. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (03:36) Background (05:12) Main activities (07:28) Organizational structure (08:25) Main EOP offices (09:13) Policy councils (10:35) Leadership and political appointments (11:37) Why (not) work at EOP? (12:06) Advantages (14:38)...

Commerce promotes US economic growth and competitiveness through diverse roles in data, innovation, and industry support. It plays a key role in AI and biosecurity policy. --- Outline: (00:50) Overview (03:16) Background on Commerce (05:15) Organizational structure (06:21) Commerce and AI policy (07:27) Recent AI-related developments at Commerce (12:46) Commerce offices working on AI policy (13:03...

OMB develops the president's annual budget proposal, manages agency processes, reviews agency regulations, and supports presidential actions, including executive orders. --- Outline: (00:44) Overview (02:15) Background on OMB (03:33) Structure (04:07) Leadership and political appointments (05:23) Budget: Resource Management Offices (RMOs) (07:46) Management (08:23) Regulation (09:11) OMB-wide supp...

BIS is the lead agency tasked with administering and enforcing export controls on dual-use items and technology. BIS has become increasingly central to the US government’s AI and biosecurity policy efforts. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (01:50) Background on BIS (03:28) History and activities (06:52) Organizational structure (07:57) BIS and AI policy (09:52) Major AI-related developments at BIS (1...

NIH is the primary federal agency for biomedical and public health research and is the largest source of funding for medical research in the world. --- Outline: (00:23) Overview (01:47) Background on NIH (03:21) Organizational structure (04:08) Biosecurity and pandemic preparedness in NIH (06:04) 2022. National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan (06:56) Major recent biosecurity-related de...

CDC’s mission is to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and domestic. It provides public health expertise, conducts research, and plays a central role in biosecurity. --- Outline: (00:25) Overview (01:22) Background on CDC (02:55) Organizational structure (04:21) Biosecurity and pandemic preparedness in CDC (06:13) 2022 National Biodefense Strategy and Implement...

FDA ensures the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biological products, and medical devices, and it oversees food safety and tobacco regulation. --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (01:05) Background on FDA (02:56) Organizational structure (03:53) Biosecurity and pandemic preparedness in FDA (05:26) Major recent biosecurity-related developments at FDA (08:21) FDA offices working on biosecurity pol...

OSTP is the president’s chief advisory body on science and technology. It provides strategic guidance for policymaking and R&D spending and coordinates federal science and technology policy initiatives. --- Outline: (00:12) Overview (01:44) Background on OSTP (03:34) EOP science and technology policy advisory structure (05:01) Organizational structure (06:50) Activities (07:43) Coordinating federa...

This profile focuses on the civilian activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) under the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and how they relate to AI and biosecurity. --- Outline: (00:11) Introduction (02:34) OSD and AI policy (05:52) AI-relevant offices within OSD (06:11) OSD and biosecurity policy (08:24) Biosecurity-relevant offices within OSD (08:44) Further reading --- If you’re int...

ASPR’s mission is to “assist the country in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies and disasters.” It runs the Strategic National Stockpile, BARDA, and other biosecurity efforts. --- Outline: (00:26) Overview (01:18) Background on ASPR (03:37) Organizational structure (04:03) ASPRs role in the interagency (06:44) Biosecurity & pandemic preparedness in ASPR...

DOE oversees energy policy, scientific research, and the nuclear arsenal, being the largest US government funder of physical science research. It significantly contributes to science and technology development and policy, including AI and biosecurity, particularly via its national labs. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (01:51) Background on DOE (04:08) Organizational structure (06:33) DOE and AI poli...

HHS plays a crucial role in healthcare, public health, medical research, and social services. It's responsible for preparing for and responding to biological threats, including via CDC, ASPR, NIH, and FDA. --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (01:50) Background on HHS (03:33) HHS and biosecurity policy (05:06) 2022 National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan (05:44) Major recent biosecurity-rela...

DOD’s mission is to “provide the military forces necessary to deter war and ensure the nation’s security.” DOD shapes emerging technology policy through multiple levers, such as... --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (01:48) Background on DOD (03:53) DOD and AI policy (06:08) Major AI-related developments at DOD (10:33) DOD and biosecurity policy (12:25) National Biodefense Strategy & Biodefense Pos...

DHS is integral to US national security, handling issues like counterterrorism, border security, cybersecurity, and disaster response. DHS's role in emerging technology policy is growing... --- Outline: (00:11) Overview (02:30) Background on DHS (04:05) Organizational structure (05:19) DHS and AI policy (07:43) DHS offices working on AI policy (08:21) DHS and biosecurity policy (10:01) 2022 Nation...

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is the nation's cyber defense agency and national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience. --- Outline: (00:12) Overview (01:33) Background on CISA (03:01) Organizational structure (05:31) CISA and AI policy (06:32) Recent AI-related developments at CISA (08:56) CISA offices working on AI policy (09:15) Working at...

NSF is an independent federal agency that advances US science and engineering progress through competitive research grants, partnerships, education, and workforce development. NSF investments drive developments across AI, biosecurity, and other emerging technologies. --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (02:00) Background on NSF (03:53) Organizational structure (05:56) NSF and AI policy (06:58) AI-relate...

The US intelligence community (IC) is a network of 18 government agencies and offices charged with collecting, analyzing, and delivering intelligence to senior US leaders to support national security decision-making. --- Outline: (01:21) Background on the IC (01:25) What does the IC do? (03:17) The IC's diverse types of roles and activities (04:01) Functional and regional analysts (05:50) Technica...

State oversees US foreign policy, negotiating treaties, managing diplomatic missions, and representing the US in international bodies. --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (02:11) Background on State (04:10) Organizational structure (06:59) Workforce (09:20) Department of State and AI policy (10:30) Major recent AI-related developments at State (13:32) State offices working on AI-related policy (13:52) D...

The FTC is an independent federal agency of the US government with a dual mission to promote fair competition and protect American consumers from predatory or misleading business practices. --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (01:19) Background on FTC (02:30) Organizational structure (04:01) FTC and AI policy (04:05) FTC components working on AI policy (05:42) Recent AI-related developments at FTC (08:1...

This guide serves as a starting point for exploring careers in biosecurity policy in the executive branch. It reviews key policy areas and agency roles and highlights key considerations to inform your career planning. --- Outline: (01:43) What is biosecurity? (03:23) Mapping the federal biosecurity ecosystem (09:06) What agencies work on in biosecurity (09:54) COVID-19 vaccines as a case study in...

The military departments—Army, Navy, and Air Force—organize, train, and equip the US armed forces. They play central roles in AI and biosecurity through large-scale R&D programs, operational testing, and technology adoption for national defense. --- Outline: (00:10) Overview (01:28) Organization (03:55) Military departments and emerging technology (05:45) AI R&D and deployment (08:38) Bio R&am...