WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the operational status of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan:
“I reviewed the report from USDA’s Office of Inspector General following its September 2025 site visit. It is disappointing that NBAF was not fully operational when the facility was transferred from DHS to USDA in 2024. Despite DHS’s failure, then-USDA Secretary Vilsack testified that NBAF was expected to be significantly operational by the end of 2024.
Since then, I have insisted that USDA quickly bring NBAF to full operational capacity – a point I have emphasized to Secretary Rollins. In my role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, we have provided funding necessary for successful completion of the facility.“NBAF is important to the safety of Americans, and further delays cannot be tolerated. Deputy Secretary Vaden has visited the facility with me, and I have invited Secretary Rollins to do the same. I will continue working with USDA and department officials to make certain there is a clear timeline and that the resources necessary are in place to realize NBAF’s full operational capacity.”Items to note:
- In January, Sen. Moran applauded USDA’s decision to exempt NBAF from the federal hiring freeze. The announcement came after Sen. Moran called on USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to pursue an exemption and expedite the recruitment and hiring of staff at NBAF.
- In September 2025, Sen. Moran hosted USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden at NBAF for a tour of the facility.
- In April 2024, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, then-USDA Secretary Vilsack testified that NBAF was expected to be significantly operational by the end of 2024.