Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Funding for Bioweapons Prevention and Defense

Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. government has spent or allocated nearly $50 billion among 11 federal departments and agencies to address the threat of biological weapons. For Fiscal Year 2009 (FY2009), the Bush Administration proposes an additional $8.97 billion in bioweapons-related spending, approximately $2.5 billion (39%) more than the amount that Congress appropriated for FY2008. U.S. funding for bioweapons-related activities focuses primarily on research, development, and acquisition of medical countermeasures. Additionally, significant biodefense funding goes to purchasing protective equipment, enhancing medical surveillance and environmental detection of biological weapons agents, and improving state, local, and hospital preparedness. The increase in bioweapons related funding in FY2009 is primarily attributed to Project BioShield, a ten-year program to acquire medical countermeasures to biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear agents for civilian use, which will receive an additional $2.175 billion as a result of FY2004 legislation. However, a notable change in funding also appears in the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the Department of Health and Human Services, which more than doubles in FY2009. Finally, funding for activities aimed at prevention has more than doubled since FY2007. Further strengthening of prevention efforts, including a commitment to broad cooperative international action, is essential for improving our nation’s security.

Michele Zilka provided research assistance for this report.