Biodefense Priorities
Nearly all federal departments and agencies contribute to the biodefense mission of the U.S. government to effectively prevent, prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from biological threats to human, animal, plant, and environmental health. NSPM-14 directs those departments and agencies, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, to prepare joint policy guidance (Guidance) on priority areas of biodefense. The Guidance shall be informed by the assessment, and considered by departments and agencies when they develop their annual budget requests. The 2019 Biodefense Assessment provided a foundational analysis of ongoing programs and identified priority areas. The overarching USG biodefense priority is to increase the USG biodefense enterprise capability and capacity. This includes initiatives planned, programmed, or being executed by departments and agencies that specifically:
- Strengthen biosurveillance;
- Improve USG knowledge and data management;
- Advance MCM development and effective use; and
- Strengthen global capacities for health security and countering biological weapons.
Our nation faces diverse and rapidly evolving biological threats. The evolving biological threat landscape compels us to assess risks to the biodefense enterprise and prioritize actions in a strategic and comprehensive manner. Further improvements must be made to effectively prepare for and respond to bioincidents.
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