US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 980

Limitation on use of humans as experimental subjects

(a)
Funds appropriated to the Department of Defense may not be used for research involving a human being as an experimental subject unless—
(1)
the informed consent of the subject is obtained in advance; or
(2)
in the case of research intended to be beneficial to the subject, the informed consent of the subject or a legal representative of the subject is obtained in advance.
(b)
(1)
The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition in this section with respect to a specific research project to advance the development of a medical product necessary to the armed forces if the research project may directly benefit the subject and is carried out in accordance with all other applicable laws.
(2)
The Secretary may delegate the authority provided by paragraph (1) to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1401(c)(1)98 Stat. 2615Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VII, § 733115 Stat. 1170Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title II, § 212137 Stat. 183(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in the following appropriation acts:

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(h)98 Stat. 1904 [title VIII, § 8029], , , 1929.

Pub. L. 98–212, title VII, § 73497 Stat. 1444, , .

Pub. L. 97–377, title I, § 101(c)96 Stat. 1833 [title VII, § 737], , , 1857.

Pub. L. 97–114, title VII, § 73895 Stat. 1585, , .

Pub. L. 96–527, title VII, § 73994 Stat. 3088, , .

Pub. L. 96–154, title VII, § 74193 Stat. 1159, , .

Pub. L. 95–457, title VIII, § 84192 Stat. 1251, , .

Pub. L. 95–111, title VIII, § 84091 Stat. 906, , .

Pub. L. 94–419, title VII, § 73990 Stat. 1297, , .

Pub. L. 94–212, title VII, § 74090 Stat. 175, , .

Pub. L. 93–437, title VIII, § 84188 Stat. 1231, , .

Pub. L. 93–238, title VII, § 74387 Stat. 1045, , .

Pub. L. 92–570, title VII, § 74586 Stat. 1203, , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–312023—Subsec. (b). designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Pub. L. 107–1072001— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 1404 of Pub. L. 98–525section 520b of this titleSection effective , see , set out as a note under .