NE Washington News

In a recent letter addressed to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) have raised concerns about ASPR's handling of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).

The letter excerpt reads, “The Committee is alarmed by a pattern of fiscal mismanagement and a series of failed acquisitions that have left the SNS dangerously under resourced and likely underprepared to respond to future public health emergencies. Over the last year, ASPR let over $850 million in emergency supplemental funding for the SNS go unused. These funds were eventually rescinded by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) due to a lack of appropriate planning and urgency by ASPR."

This rescission took place despite ASPR repeatedly expressing concerns to Congress about adequately funding the replenishment of the SNS following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee responded by increasing authorization of SNS funding in its reauthorization of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act.

Despite Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell's goal to "restore and maintain public health emergency capacity," including replenishing the SNS, concerns have been raised about ASPR’s ability to manage it effectively. In 2022, The Government Accountability Office (GAO) placed the Department of Health and Human Services' management of public health emergencies on its high-risk list.

On May 2, 2024, GAO published a report outlining ongoing challenges for managing the SNS, noting that public health emergency coordination remains on its “High Risk List.”

The Chairs requested answers from Assistant Secretary O’Connell regarding past and future contracting processes, policies, and decisions related to ASPR's management of SNS. They are expecting responses by May 21, 2024.