Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

After Flight 5342 crashed into the Potomac in January 2025, NDMS’s DMORT and VIC deployed. DMORT worked side by side with DC's Chief Medical Examiner to process remains. VIC worked with the Family Assistance Center, talking to families and gathering information on unidentified victims. Both teams played a key role in helping the families of the 67 victims begin to find closure. In honor of their outstanding service, @dcfireemsfound and Families of Flight 5342 presented them with a plaque and challenge coin.

ASPR continues to support onshoring and domestic manufacturing. Today, ASPR is supporting an award to help combat the opioid crisis & reduce dependence on foreign pharmaceutical suppliers. aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages…

A new tool is now available to help hospitals, healthcare facilities, and public health organizations strengthen cybersecurity using a NIST-based assessment. Learn more about the free RISC 2.0 Cybersecurity Module to help strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard patients: aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages…

ASPR supports onshoring and domestic manufacturing. During a recent site visit to one facility, @manusbio GA facility, Congressional staff saw: ✅The site where key components of an influenza antiviral will be produced. ✅Ongoing domestic production of key starting materials for an anti-malaria drug. ✅Decreased dependence on foreign pharmaceutical supply chains. ✅More jobs for Americans. Learn more about ASPR's program to make essential medicines here at home under the Defense Production Act Title III Program: aspr.hhs.gov/legal/DPA/Page…

Temporary reassignment authority strengthens state and local resilience and enables rapid response during emergencies. This authority ensures states have the flexibility to use existing staff to protect their communities more effectively. bit.ly/405Srwg

Today, we took action to onshore and support the manufacturing of critical medical products, alleviating potential shortages in the future. The U.S. has relied on China exclusively for Shikimic Acid, a key starting material for Oseltamivir. That ends today. In partnership with @ManusBio, we’re bringing production of Shikimic Acid home—reducing risk, strengthening supply chains, and creating jobs. bit.ly/4cygmf4

When disaster strikes Hawaii, @Hawaii_EMA responds. @HHS_ASPR John Knox met with HIEMA leadership to discuss ways to strengthen state and local resilience in Hawaii. Operating from Diamond Head Crater, HIEMA runs Hawaii's primary EOC, coordinating emergency response across the islands 24/7 and advising the Governor on emergency declarations.

Mahalo to our colleagues at the @DOTHawaii, @HawaiiDOH, and @Hawaii_EMA for sharing your knowledge of disaster response operations in your state. Together we are strengthening state and local resilience.

With ASPR' support, @MedStarWHC built a biocontainment unit that fills a gap in special pathogen preparedness. This state-of-the-art facility can be used to treat patients with high-consequence infectious diseases safely – protecting patients, clinicians, and the American people.

Can the U.S. safely bring Americans infected with a high-consequence infectious disease home? Yes. The Tranquil Passport Full-Scale Exercise validated our ability to safely repatriate HCID patients and highlighted where we can strengthen readiness. bit.ly/4rocAJm

Preparedness means acting before the next outbreak. With over 150 representatives on site, the SMART Antiviral Prize launch included @HHS_ASPR John Knox as a keynote speaker. PDAS Knox highlighted why broad-spectrum antivirals are vital to national health security. Innovators: get ready! Learn more: SMARTantiviral.com

Today, we are launching the ASPR Strategic Plan 2026-2029, focused on readiness before disaster strikes, strengthening medical supply chains, rapid response when lives are at risk, and strong partnerships. aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages…

99.9% uptime for saline. That’s the vision of the @dekaresearch Caspian System team. This system is being developed to provide a reliable supply of @US_FDA approved sterile saline at the point-of-care. Easy to transport. Simple to use. Designed to be deployed. @HHS_ASPR PDAS Knox and the ASPR team saw it first-hand.

From supporting 10 new @US_FDA approvals for medical countermeasure to responding to cyber threats in St. Croix, ASPR confronted emerging health challenges with innovation and speed in 2025. We'll be ready for whatever lies ahead in 2026. bit.ly/4pjCHzR

Today, we announced the provision of @BARDA-supported investigational vaccines and treatments to fight the Marburg outbreak in Ethiopia. This action is the latest step in the @POTUS Administration’s transition to efficient, country-led assistance. aspr.hhs.gov/newsroom/Pages…