Bioterror Defense Called Flawed

Budget cuts, poor coordination and a lack of attention from high-ranking federal health officials have “left America still too vulnerable to a possible bioterror attack,” Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) wrote Friday in a scathing iteration of gaps in the nation’s preparedness.

Two years after Congress passed legislation outlining specific steps for preventing, detecting and responding to terrorist incidents, Lieberman said the Bush administration “has not come close to complying with the basic requirements and goals” of the measure.

Specifically, he said, key staff positions have gone unfilled, public health laboratories are poorly equipped, mandatory progress reports have not been filed, hospitals do not have the beds or equipment to handle mass casualties, and there remains confusion over the roles and responsibilities of various local, state and federal agencies. And the National Preparedness Plan “is merely a listing of bioterrorism-related activities” underway, Lieberman wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

Within hours, Thompson fired off a response, calling the accusations “erroneous” and “absurd.” Lieberman’s assessment “is absolutely laughable on its face,” Thompson said in an interview. “We are being criticized for what states have not done.”

Lieberman cited one independent analysis that concluded last year that with many states trimming public health departments, “the level of preparedness was actually declining in many states.”

Most notably, the senator said, the administration has proposed cutting more than $150 million from bioterrorism-related projects such as hospital surge capacity, mental health care, emergency response training, and assistance to city and state health departments. Given such a “disturbing record,” Lieberman said, “you’d think the threat was diminishing.”

The problem, Thompson responded, is that states have not spent almost half of the $3.7 billion in current grants. Rather than cutting $105 million from the budget, Thompson said, he is simply shifting money away from cities and states and giving it to federal bioterrorism programs.

That, said Patrick Libbey of the National Assn. of County and City Health Officials, “is misinformation.” He said 92% of the grant money has been obligated by states, which in many cases are simply waiting to receive bills.

A two-page HHS fact sheet noted that the administration has proposed a $65-million increase for food safety and an additional $121 million for biodefense research. Thompson touted efforts to expand food inspections, the construction of a “war room” at HHS headquarters, the purchase of millions of doses of smallpox vaccine and a new surveillance project the agency is developing with the Department of Homeland Security.

In closing his response, Thompson chastised Lieberman for failing to tour the HHS command center and promised the senator that he would personally give him a tour if he did make a visit.

Lieberman’s criticism echoed several government and independent audits that have cited shortcomings in the government’s bioterrorism preparations.