Congress weighs ban on government contracts for 'adversarial biotech companies' like China's BGI

Defense companies exploring artificial intelligence will help the U.S. military "keep up" with rivals like China, a former fighter pilot told Fox News. The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act could include a House-authored provision that prohibits the United States government and its contractors from buying equipment from "adversarial biotech companies" that work to "exploit" Americans' genetic information for "malign purposes," Fox News Digital has learned. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are currently conferencing and negotiating on final NDAA text that can be passed by both chambers. The provision, which was passed in the original House bill, was introduced by House China Select Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. The provision prohibits the purchase of biotechnology equipment or services from all United States adversaries, including North Korea, Russia, Iran and China.