Perspective: BiodefenseLawmakers Seek Probe of Controversial Bioweapons Defense System
The Trump administration’s attempt to deploy a scientifically disputed system for detecting airborne anthrax or other infectious agents in terrorist attacks is facing increased scrutiny from a bipartisan group of House members. in a three-page letter, four Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked the Government Accountability Office to conduct an in-depth scientific evaluation of the new system, called BioDetection 21. Officials from the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, signaled that they plan to open the inquiry.
The Trump administration’s attempt to deploy a scientifically disputed system for detecting airborne anthrax or other infectious agents in terrorist attacks is facing increased scrutiny from a bipartisan group of House members.
David Willman writes in the Los Angeles Times that in a three-page letter, four Democrats and Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked the Government Accountability Office to conduct an in-depth scientific evaluation of the new system, called BioDetection 21.
Officials from the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, signaled that they plan to open the inquiry.
The lawmakers’ request cited a Feb. 15 Los Angeles Times article as the impetus for a full-fledged review of the controversial new biodefense system.
The letter was signed by the committee chairman, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), and the ranking member, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), along with Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.).
Homeland Security is facing separate congressional scrutiny for efforts over the last two years to reduce or eliminate other programs intended to identify and block chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats posed by terrorists.
The cutbacks were detailed in a Times investigative report last month that found the Trump administration had gutted training, drills and other programs put in place after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in a broad-based effort to prevent an attack on U.S. soil involving weapons of mass destruction.
The Department of Homeland Security has initially installed BioDetection 21 in 12 U.S. cities as a planned replacement for BioWatch, the nation’s existing, problem-plagued biodetection system.
BioWatch has been plagued from the start by false alarms, however, and government scientists say it cannot be relied on to detect actual biological attacks.
The lawmakers’ letter asks the GAO to assess “to what extent Homeland Security has implemented recommendations from a 2015 GAO report to thoroughly evaluate the capabilities of BioWatch.”
