Democrats, Republicans Ask OSTP for Timeframe on Research Security Program

Lawmakers are calling on the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy to provide a timeframe for the launch of the Research Security Program Standard Requirement.

Speaking before a House Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing on Thursday, OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar, a past Wash100 winner and past Potomac Officers Club speaker, said that RSP is a personal priority.

The RSP is a product of a 2021 presidential memorandum on national security strategy in government-supported research and development, directing the OSTP to protect federally funded institutions from attacks initiated by foreign governments and other adversaries, FedScoop reported.

The agency has been working on the RSP for months. It released a draft guidance on requirements in February 2023 for research security programs at universities across the nation. In March, it issued a request for information for research organizations affected by the requirement.

Cybersecurity is a topic commonly talked about in the education sector. Carahsoft Education Market Program Executive Tim Boltz said the education sector needs to prioritize cybersecurity to enhance national security and students’ experiences.