Transparency and Public Accountability in Biodefense: Freedom of Information and Access to Research Information Since the late 1990s, US spending on biological weapons agent research has increased roughly tenfold. As of early 2006, more than 16,000 persons are registered to handle biological weapons agents ("select agents") in the US, and hundreds of facilities are conducting biodefense projects. The trend is acontinued dangerous expansion in the number of people and places conducting experiments with bioweapons agents. Although the meteoric growth of research in the US is greater than that other countries, internationally the number of high containment labs and the amount of experimetnation with bioweapons agents is also growing. The expansion have safety and security implications locally, nationally, and internationally. Because so much research with biological weapons agents is dual-use (that is, potentially has both offensive and defensive implications), transparency at biodefense labs is critical to gaining public confidence and the trust of other countries in the peaceful intent of biodefense research. Especially when it comes to experiments using genetic engineering and related new technologies. But too often, policymakers opt for secrecy or pay only lip service to the need for openness. This, in turn, is breeding a dangerous world of biological mistrust for us and, especially, our children. To combat secrecy, the Sunshine Project files requests open records laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act and equivalent laws in US states and other countries, to obtain and disseminate information about biodefense research and the (often lacking) systems to ensure its safety and accountability. In an average year we file about 300 such open records and declassification requests, frequently in collaboration with other nonprofit partners. By exercising rights to obtain and publicize information on biodefense projects, the Project seeks to increase transparency and, thereby, safety and security.