MANHATTAN (KSNT) – Concerns are growing over a federal facility not being fully operational since opening three years ago in Manhattan.
The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) is designed to protect the nation’s agriculture, farmers and citizens against the potential impact of serious animal diseases. A new report from the Office of the Inspector General found the $1.25 billion facility has not fully functioned since its opening in 2023.
In July of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General issued a report following a visit to the Manhattan facility to determine if it was properly equipped to house animals for high-level biosafety and animal disease research.
The report found the facility was “not set up for full operations and was not appropriately configured and commissioned to house animals for high-level biosafety and animal disease research and diagnostics or to receive select agent registration approval.”
The report explained that the Department of Homeland Security transferred the facility to the USDA in 2024 without a complete commissioning report. The USDA accepted the facility and proceeded with the transfer believing the appropriate repairs and upgrades would be fast-tracked under its agency. However, USDA officials said they did not know the full extent of the repairs and updates needed.
As a result, the USDA incurred a total monetary impact of $78.4 million as of Apr. 2026. This included questioned costs without recovery for at least $75.8 million that the USDA incurred for remediation, commissioning and operational costs for laboratory spaces.
In July’s report, the Office of Inspector General put forward three recommendations to the USDA so that the facility can reach its full operating capability. The USDA is working towards these recommendations.
According to the Inspector General’s Report, the facility is currently conducting bio safety level one and two experiments. The Director of the Biosecurity Research Institute at K-State tells 27 News that it is assisting the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility with resources it has available. There is no clear timeline to when it will be fully operational.
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