Microbiologists wanting

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—the sprawling federal agency charged with protecting the nation from terrorist threats—employs only one microbiology intelligence analyst and plans to add only a few more to its Office of Information Analysis later this year. Calling the situation "dysfunctional" and "unacceptable," some members of Congress are urging President Bush to take immediate remedial action.The DHS information analysis office "is not remotely close to having the tools it needs to meet its critical mandate," stated Rep. Jim Turner (D-Texas), ranking member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, in a June 9 letter to Bush. "The Office of Information Analysis has hired one microbiologist to analyze the totality of the threat to the homeland posed by bioterrorism, and even at full strength, will have only two or three more individuals for this mission."In addition, DHS officials were "completely unprepared" to provide a current bioterrorism threat assessment at a June 5 committee hearing, Turner said. "It was clear to members on both sides of the aisle that this office is widely failing and ill-equipped to carry out this vital function," Turner said in a written statement. DHS spokesman Brian Roehrkasse told The Scientist that the agency's Office of Information Analysis is currently relying on microbiologists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for bioterrorism threat analysis. The DHS information analysis office currently has 20 to 25 analysts and plans to hire another 20 by the end of the month, building up to a total of 85 by the end of September. Only four or five of these analysts will specialize in life sciences or microbiology, he said. "These are individuals who will possess knowledge of intelligence analysis" in microbiology, Roehrkasse said. DHS officials have not yet decided whether to hire analysts with backgrounds in microbiology or microbiologists experienced in intelligence analysis. "We need to ensure we have full analytical capabilities to try and get the best assessment of the threats from bioterrorism," Roehrkasse said.The June 5 hearing was one in a series of House committee meetings exploring provisions of Project BioShield, the White House's $6-billion plan to accelerate development and production of new vaccines and countermeasures against bioweapons. One House committee has already approved legislation to enact the program but has rejected the Bush administration's request for unlimited funding authority—a component officials argue is essential to spur research and development of new vaccines and therapeutics. During the June 5 hearing, Paul Redmond, the DHS assistant secretary for information analysis, said he was not prepared to disclose a current bioterrorism threat assessment because the department lacks full information on which pathogens pose the most serious threats. Under questioning, Redmond also said the information analysis office is not receiving top secret and higher classified information because it lacks proper technology to keep it secure. Subcommittee members expressed frustration. "We're not getting very far very fast today," said Chairman Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.). Last month, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved its version of Project BioShield and set funding at around $5.6 billion over the next 10 years. That House bill (HR 2122) is at odds with the Senate version, which grants the administration's request for "permanent indefinite funding authority" to spur development and to purchase "huge amounts" of vaccines or drugs to treat smallpox, anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, plague, and other pathogens. The Senate measure (S 15), passed on March 19 by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, would authorize a permanent funding stream of around $6 billion for 10 years. But an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office puts the total cost for the Senate bill at $8.1 billion over 10 years. The House Select Committee on Homeland Security plans to mark up its version of the bill by June 27 in preparation for a floor vote. Lawmakers hope to complete Project BioShield legislation before the summer recess in August. Project BioShield would give NIH new authority to bypass traditional procedures when awarding urgently needed research and development grants and contracts. It would also give the Food and Drug Administration ability to authorize widespread use of experimental drugs in case of a bioterrorist attack or other emergency.

Microbiologists wanting

Critics call biothreat analysis at new Homeland Security department dysfunctional

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