United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1999-03-16 monographic deposited born digital 16 p. GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-99-112 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112 P0b002ee18038c0d2 f:ns99112t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112 T-NSIAD-99-112 Interagency relations Terrorism Strategic planning Emergency preparedness Explosives Domestic intelligence Biological warfare Chemical warfare Testimony NSIAD S99112 Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed its ongoing work and preliminary observations on the biological terrorist threat and some aspects of the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) bioterrorism initiative, focusing on: (1) intelligence agencies' judgments about the threat of terrorism; (2) the importance and benefits of threat and risk assessments to provide a sound basis for targeting the nation's investments in combating terrorism; (3) preliminary observations from GAO's ongoing work on the science behind the biological and chemical terrorist threat, with some focus on biological agents; and (4) overall observations on public health initiatives that deal with a new national pharmaceutical stockpile and the basis for selecting items to research, produce, procure, and stockpile for civilian defense against terrorism.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) the U.S. intelligence community continuously assesses both the foreign-origin and the domestic terrorist threat to the United States and notes that, overall, conventional explosives and firearms continue to be the weapons of choice for terrorists; (2) terrorists are less likely to use biological and chemical weapons than conventional explosives, at least partly because they are difficult to weaponize and the results are unpredictable; (3) however, some groups and individuals of concern are showing interest in biological and chemical agents; (4) the possibility that terrorists may use biological and chemical materials may increase over the next decade, according to intelligence agencies; (5) while biological and chemical terrorism is still an emerging threat, many agencies have initiated programs and activities--with Congress' support and funding--to combat and prepare for this threat; (6) GAO has previously reported on the value of a new, post-Cold War approach of using sound threat and risk assessments performed by a multidisciplinary team of experts for focusing programs and investments to combat terrorism; (7) without such assessments using sound inputs and a multidisciplinary team of experts, there is little or no assurance that programs and spending are focused in the right areas in the right amounts; (8) GAO is looking into the scientific and practical feasibility of a terrorist or terrorist group improvising a biological weapon or device outside a state-run laboratory and program, successfully and effectively disseminating biological agents, and causing mass casualties; (9) much of the information obtained is sensitive, classified, and in the early stages of evaluation; (10) overall, there are serious challenges at various stages of the process for a terrorist group or individual to successfully cause mass casualties with an improvised biological or chemical weapon or device; (11) for its part of domestic preparedness initiatives for combating terrorism, HHS received about $160 million in fiscal year (FY) 1999; (12) these funds are intended for a variety of related preparedness efforts, including research and development and a new national stockpile for pharmaceuticals, millions of doses of vaccines for smallpox and anthrax, antidotes for chemical agents, and other items; and (13) for FY 2000, HHS has requested $230 million for public health initiatives for dealing with bioterrorism. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112.pdf GAO/T-NSIAD-99-112 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-99-112 Testimony GAO/T-NSIAD-99-112; Combating Terrorism: Observations on Biological Terrorism and Public Health Initiatives; Interagency relations Terrorism Strategic planning Emergency preparedness Explosives Domestic intelligence Biological warfare Chemical warfare Public Law 105-277