Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2025, which directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—the Congressional “watchdog”—to investigate the Cold War-era Department of Defense (Department of War) bioweapons program, and whether they ever used ticks as hosts or delivery mechanisms for biological warfare agents.

                Smith’s home state of New Jersey has one of the highest Lyme rates in the United States, with the disease being present in all 21 counties. The elevated incidence rates of Lyme disease in the state not only carry concerns for civilians, but also for military personnel stationed in New Jersey.

                Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is a critical military installation, located partly in New Jersey’s fourth congressional district. National Guard units from across the Northeast come to the Joint Base to train during the peak season for Lyme disease—putting servicemembers at a heightened risk of catching the illness.

                In testimony to the Rules Committee, which made his amendment in order, Smith argued that “as the threat of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses looms larger every year, an investigation into its origins may provide answers for those that suffer from Lyme.”

                Specifically, Smith’s amendment instructs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an exhaustive review of research conducted by the military, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal agencies between the period of January 1, 1945 and December 31, 1972, pertaining to experiments involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales—two forms of tick-borne bacteria.

                Smith has offered two similar amendments—one in 2019 and the other in 2021—which passed the House, but failed in the Senate.

                In the book, Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons, author Kris Newby interviews Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, the researcher who is credited with discovering Lyme disease and also served as a bio-weapons specialist employed by the U.S. government.

                “The credible assertions revealed through Kris Newby’s interviews with Dr. Burgdorfer, combined with his personal files, reveal that he and other bio-weapons specialists stuffed ticks with pathogens in a quest to cause severe disability, disease, and even death to potential enemies in novel and inconspicuous ways,” said Smith, a leading lawmaker and advocate for Lyme disease research, prevention, and identification.

                “The hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from Lyme disease in New Jersey—in addition to the millions across the country—have the right to know the truth about the origins of their illness,” Smith continued. “A greater understanding of how the disease came to be so pervasive will only assist in finding effective treatments and a potential cure,” Smith continued.

                The Smith amendment was passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides new directions and reforms for our Nation’s Armed Forces. This legislation authorizes $892.6 billion for national defense programs, including a 3.8% pay raise for all service members.

                The FY26 NDAA (HR 3838) additionally authorizes $3 billion for the construction of barracks, family housing, dining and medical facilities, as well as childcare centers and schools to improve the quality of life for servicemembers and their families.

                HR 3838 also includes significant reforms to our Nation’s military, creating a better, more prepared force to meet the threats of the future and ensuring fairness for those who answer the call to serve. These provisions include:

• Saving taxpayers $20 billion, including $15 billion in DOGE-identified savings;
• Eliminating poisonous DEI policies, which harm military recruitment and retention; and
• Returning merit-based admissions to our Nation’s service academies.

                This legislation appropriates funds for national defense efforts, such as:

• $900 million to fight drug trafficking, including $398 million for DoD support of counter-narcotics operations and $116 million for National Guard counter-drug programs;
• $22 billion in shipbuilding for additional submarines and surface vessels;
• $38 billion to ensure air dominance, including funds for a next-generation fighter; and$142 billion to research and develop new technologies, such as drones and counter-drone systems urgently needed by the warfighter.

                Furthermore, HR 3838 fully funds the following important initiatives:

• Operations to secure the Southern border through the establishment of National Defense Areas along the Southwest;
•  The Tawain Security Cooperation Initiative, which has been allocated $1 billion to deter the CCP and protect critical industries;
• The security of Israel, including fully funding joint U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs, such as the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling;
• The President’s Golden Dome program for missile and drone defense to protect the homeland; and
• $15 billion to restore America’s munitions arsenals—critical for installations, such as Naval Weapons Station Earle.

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Contact:
Teagan Gambert, Communications Director
(202) 225-3765
http://chrissmith.house.gov