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.