Senators Push Don’t Sell My DNA Act to Shield Genetic Data Post-23andMe Bankruptcy

In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) have introduced the Don’t Sell My DNA Act, a legislative response to the privacy alarm bells set off by 23andMe’s recent bankruptcy. The genetic testing company’s financial nosedive raised fears about what happens to sensitive DNA data when a company goes belly-up. This bill aims to plug a glaring gap in the bankruptcy code by classifying genetic information as personally identifiable information, ensuring it’s not treated like office furniture in a fire sale.

Current law protects names, addresses, and Social Security numbers during bankruptcy proceedings, but genetic data? It’s been left in a legal gray zone, vulnerable to misuse or sale without consent. The new measure requires companies to get explicit permission from consumers before selling or leasing their DNA data during bankruptcy and mandates written notice about how such data might be used. If the data isn’t sold or leased, it must be deleted—plain and simple.

The push comes on the heels of 23andMe’s Chapter 11 filing in March 2025, followed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals snapping up its assets for $256 million in a court-supervised auction. While Regeneron has pledged to safeguard consumer data, the senators aren’t taking chances on future cases. “Americans’ DNA isn’t a commodity to be hawked to the highest bidder,” Cornyn emphasized, highlighting the need to prevent genetic information from being weaponized or exposed without consent.

Klobuchar pointed out the murky reality of data profiteering, noting that companies like 23andMe have cashed in on consumer data while leaving users in the dark. Grassley echoed the sentiment, stressing that personal information shouldn’t be “up for grabs” just because a company hits financial rock bottom. The bill’s goal? To give consumers control over their genetic blueprints and keep them secure, no matter a company’s balance sheet.