New Homeland Security Department Could Weaken Public Health System

The Wall Street Journal on July 1 examines the Bush administration's proposal to establish a new Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security and how the plan could hamper efforts to improve the nation's public health system. According to some public health experts, the proposal could "actually weaken" the system by "splintering responsibility" between the new department and HHS. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said last week the proposal would include a "distinct tear line" between public health functions that would move to the new department and those that would remain under HHS' jurisdiction. For example, HHS would administer functions such as maternal health and childhood immunization, but the CDC Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, as well as agency employees who oversee the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile and a laboratory registration program for biological and chemical agents, would move to the new department. Many public health experts have questioned such a division. The CDC systems that would identify a biological attack as part of the new department also are used to track natural diseases, a responsibility of HHS. Public health experts also note that bioterrorism research conducted by NIH "often resembles research conducted on natural diseases." In addition, some of the food safety functions administered by the Department of Agriculture would move to the new department, while the FDA, which regulates 80% of the nation's food supply and would have to approve bioterrorism-related treatments and vaccines, is not mentioned in the proposal.

Proposal 'Not Clear'
According to a General Accounting Office report, the administration's proposal "is not clear on how the public health and homeland security objectives would be balanced." Tara O'Toole, director of the Center for Civilian Bio-Defense Strategies at Johns Hopkins University, said, "They appear to be splitting up functions rather than consolidating them." Lawmakers also have raised concerns about the proposal. Rep. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who has expressed support for the proposal, questioned whether the administration has "thought through exactly the consequences" of a division of public health functions. However, Ridge said that the proposal "will end up having dual value ... in combating terrorism and making the public health system more robust" (Wall Street Journal, 7/1).

New HHS Appointment
In related news, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on June 28 announced that Jerome Hauer will become acting assistant secretary for public health emergency preparedness, a position established by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act signed into law last month. Hauer has been directing HHS' Office of Public Health Preparedness since May 3. In the past, he has served as the director of the Office of Emergency Management in New York City, where he developed one of the nation's first bioterrorism response plans. "Hauer will lead HHS' efforts to strengthen our nation's ability to respond to acts of terrorism and, simultaneously, our nation's public health infrastructure," Thompson said (HHS release, 6/28).