10 USC § 6331 - Laboratory-directed research and development programs

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s6331"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 6331 - Laboratory-directed research and development programs"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "6331"
section_name: "Laboratory-directed research and development programs"
chapter_number: 608
chapter_name: "ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "VI"
part_name: "ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1448.)"
---


# § 6331. Laboratory-directed research and development programs

**(a)** **Authority.—** Government-owned, contractor-operated laboratories that are funded out of funds available to the Department of Energy for national security programs are authorized to carry out laboratory-directed research and development.

**(b)** **Regulations.—** The Secretary 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 of Energy to a national security laboratory for national security activities, the Secretary 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), is selected by the director of a laboratory for the purpose of maintaining the vitality of the laboratory in defense-related scientific disciplines.

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

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6331 was renumbered .

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , War and National Defense, prior to repeal by .