Funding Bioterrorism: A Great Leap Backward for Public Health

In the last 10 years, billions of dollars have been spent on so-called bioterrorism preparedness programs and research, without evidence of need. In the beginning, bioterrorism funding was touted as a way to build up public health infrastructure through “dual use”. The reality has been the opposite. Money for important prevention and treatment programs at every level has been diverted and the “dual use” promise has come up empty. As the cost of the Gulf War overwhelms the economy and government finances (directly through Pentagon spending and indirectly through oil and food prices), health service and research budgets have either stagnated or been cut. Meanwhile the challenges to health for millions in the U.S. and billions of people internationally have been made greater by war, climate change, privatization, and high food, fuel and drug prices. Nonetheless bioterrorism spending has become institutionalized with no justification. Can APHA members challenge these backward priorities?