---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6331"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6331"
heading: "Laboratory-directed research and development programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6331"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 608 — Administrative Matters"
  - "Subchapter II — Research and Development"
---

# §6331. Laboratory-directed research and development programs

- (a) **Authority.—** Government-owned, contractor-operated laboratories that are funded out of funds available to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy for [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) are authorized to carry out laboratory-directed research and development.
- (b) **Regulations.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy shall prescribe regulations for the conduct of laboratory-directed research and development at such laboratories.
- (c) **Funding.—** Of the funds provided by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy to a [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) laboratory for [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) activities, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall provide a specific amount, of not less than 5 percent and not more than 7 percent of such funds, to be used by the laboratory for laboratory-directed research and development.
- (d) **Laboratory-directed Research and Development Defined.—** For purposes of this section, the term “laboratory-directed research and development” means research and development work of a creative and innovative nature which, under the regulations prescribed pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b), is selected by the director of a laboratory for the purpose of maintaining the vitality of the laboratory in defense-related scientific disciplines.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1448.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6331 was renumbered section 8331 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2791 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).