President Trump has introduced a strategy that aims to help the federal government respond to biological threats and boost the U.S. biodefense enterprise.
Trump noted in his recently signed National Security Presidential Memorandum that secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee the implementation of the National Biodefense Strategy, the White House said Tuesday.
The NSPM also authorizes the establishment of a cabinet-level biodefense steering committee that will deal with issues on bioterrorism and outbreaks of deadly diseases.
The president additionally assigned John Bolton, U.S. national security advisor, to review biological threats and focus on biodefense actions annually to allow the federal government to prepare and respond to biological incidents.
Trump said his administration will evaluate the biodefense needs of the U.S., as well as regularly monitor the implementation of the National Biodefense Strategy to leverage the government’s biodefense resources and actions.
The plan is based on lessons learned from previous incidents such as the 2001 anthrax attacks, the 2009 influenza pandemic and 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic.