The document provides a summary of key provisions in the White House’s guidance for implementing National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33), which establishes federal policy on safeguarding research and development (R&D) supported by the U.S. government. Issued in January 2022, the guidance covers researcher disclosure requirements, use of digital persistent identifiers (DPIs), consequences for violations, information sharing, and institutional research security programs. Regarding DPIs, such as ORCID IDs, the guidance encourages their use to reduce ambiguity in researcher identification, promote data integrity in disclosures, and streamline application processes. Agencies are advised to accept disclosures through DPI services but must provide alternative means, with specific standards for privacy, integration, and cost-free access.
On consequences for disclosure violations or activities undermining research security, the guidance outlines a tiered approach distinguishing between enforcement and non-enforcement administrative actions, referencing statutory limits and the need for due process. Research organizations face administrative remedies and potential sanctions depending on circumstances, with agencies instructed to maintain transparency, encourage self-disclosure, and clearly communicate corrective processes. The guidance also standardizes information sharing practices among agencies and with law enforcement, emphasizing privacy protections and lawful dissemination. For research security programs, institutions receiving significant federal science and engineering support must certify compliance with new programmatic requirements, including cybersecurity, foreign travel security, insider threat awareness, and export control training. The government will provide standardized content and technical assistance, but institutions retain flexibility to tailor programs. Overall, the NSPM-33 guidance seeks to harmonize federal agency approaches to research security while balancing transparency, privacy, and institutional autonomy.
This summary highlights key points of the NSPM-33 Guidance that address the other topics covered by the document: DPIs, consequences, information sharing, and research security programs.
