Survey of Biological Terrorism and America's Domestic Preparedness Program

Since 1996, the federal government has been engaged in a large-scale effort to prepare for a potential terrorist attack in the United States with a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). The threat of terrorists employing biological weapons has been a source of great concern to officials involved in domestic preparedness activities. A 1996 survey by the National Governor’s Association found that states were not prepared to deal with the threat of biological weapons. A July 1999 National Guard Bureau report to Congress concluded that, there is insufficient capability to determine that a biological attack has occurred, make timely identification of biological agents, provide treatment to mass casualties, and contain the event. In sum, the United States is ill prepared to respond to attacks involving biological agents.” According to the Department of Justice’s Five-Year Interagency Counterterrorism and Technology Crime Plan, “By far, our greatest deficiency in regard to WMD lies in our limited capability to detect, prevent and respond to the use of biological agents.”