For decades, America’s strength in national security was measured in terms of military strength (or number of tanks, planes, ships, and troops). But in today’s world, a single line of malicious code or a manipulated virus can wreak more havoc than any conventional attack. The battlefield has shifted, and so must our defenses.
Biological threats and viruses are not just a part of nature; they could come out of rogue labs, a rogue state, or even a biological attack. A deliberate biological attack or a lab leak of an engineered virus could cripple industries, destabilize supply chains, and undermine our economy. We must prepare for these threats as part of our broader strategic planning.
Take smallpox: while it was one of the world’s deadliest diseases until it was eradicated by means of vaccination, it is still a potential threat today. Officially, only two labs — one in Atlanta and one in Russia — retain samples. But Western intelligence suspects other nations hold clandestine reserves that could be weaponized or accidentally leak from a lab. The smallpox virus can also be recreated by hostile states and terrorist groups.
Biological weapons are an increasingly real threat, and Russia’s documented history of weaponizing deadly pathogens, including smallpox, and its suspected offensive biological weapons program today, underscore the threat. Even though the virus was eliminated in nature, Smallpox remains a strategic threat to our national security. Deterrence is essential, but if it fails, America must be ready.
Recent outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, chikungunya in Cuba, and Marburg virus in Ethiopia remind us that naturally occurring outbreaks continue to pose serious risks. Vaccines exist for some of these diseases, but access and readiness to confront public health crises are critical in the case of viral spread to the U.S.
However, the Trump Administration has made key steps to improve preparedness by reorganizing HHS, simplifying CDC to focus on its core mission to protect Americans from deadly pathogens, and prioritizing the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) as the backbone of biodefense for American citizens. These moves bolster domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. ASPR’s Strategic National Stockpile, our first line of defense, receives less than $1 billion annually. That is a rounding error in the federal budget and a fraction of what we lose to waste, fraud, and abuse every year.
The Administration has also enacted long-overdue efforts to Make America Healthy Again, which not only will improve the health of our nation, but will help to build our immune systems to fight off disease. However, the healthiest food in the world does not stand a chance against the power of a deadly virus, especially for immunocompromised or vulnerable populations. When a crisis hits from a deadly virus, and a vaccine or drug is warranted, families and their doctors need options.
Vaccine and medication stockpiling is needed, but it is not sufficient. We must face geopolitical realities. Russia is openly expanding facilities tied to its past biological weapons programs, including smallpox. A nation that might be willing to revive smallpox weaponization could share advances with China, Iran, North Korea, or non-state bad actors. We need to develop a comprehensive biodefense strategy that addresses these risks directly and provides adequate funding.
President Trump’s call for global cooperation to end biological weapons is vital, but we need to strengthen our own capabilities first. America’s stockpile must be broader, stronger, and rigorously maintained. The stockpile needs to be viewed as a national security asset, not only a public health resource. Our ability to respond before a crisis reaches our borders must be a top priority.
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Congress must also act now. Reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) is essential to sustain and strengthen ASPR’s mission. PAHPA provides the legal and funding framework for preparedness, response, and medical countermeasure development. Failure to do this could mean that America risks losing critical momentum and leaving gaps that adversaries will exploit.
The Trump administration is making strides, but preparedness must not be an afterthought. To keep America healthy, we must first keep America prepared
Gerald W. Parker is a former Special Assistant to President Trump and former Senior Director for Biosecurity and Pandemic Response.
