United States Standards Strategy Released

On January 6, 2026, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) published the United States Standards Strategy (USSS) 2025. The USSS guides how the U.S. develops standards and participates in international standardization. This strategy was first developed in 2000 and is updated every five years. ANSI notes that the 2025 edition “responds to unprecedented technological change and intensifying geopolitical competition, where standards shape emerging industries.”

The USSS 2025 reaffirms and builds on the U.S. commitment to private-sector-led, market-relevant standards with the support of the U.S. federal government. The USSS was developed by extensive input from across the U.S. standardization community including U.S. federal agencies. NIST experts, alongside those from other federal agencies, contributed input to the draft version of USSS.

The strategy centers on four objectives:

1. Strengthen U.S. commitment to international standards by leading strategic collaboration and defending against geopolitical manipulation.
2. Demonstrate the broad value of standards by expanding education about how standards drive innovation, safety, and market access.
3. Make standards development more efficient by embracing innovation and training the next generation.
4. Address opportunities and challenges head-on through active participation in standards for emerging technologies and investment in the full standards ecosystem.

As the President’s principal adviser on standards policy pertaining to the nation’s technological competitiveness and innovation, NIST works to champion the strength of the voluntary standards system of the United States including through partnership with ANSI.

The NIST Strategy for American Technology Leadership in the 21st Century, which includes a strategic priority to bolster American leadership in standards, is well aligned with the USSS 2025. Both the USSS 2025 and NIST’s strategy emphasize the importance of U.S. standards leadership for powering our economic future, national security, and quality of life.

View the NIST Strategy for American Technology Leadership in the 21st Century.

View the United States Standards Strategy (USSS) 2025, along with an executive summary and other companion documents.

Visit Standards.gov to learn more about standards education materials, trade programs and U.S. standards-related policies, and federal agencies’ use of standards.