Combating Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Department of AgricultureThe Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) involvement in combating biological terrorismwas spurred by the discovery of the extent of investment by the former Soviet Union increating anti-plant and anti-animal agents designed to destroy U.S. crops and livestock.According to Ken Alibek, former first deputy chief of research and production for the SovietBW program, the Russian offensive biological research complex had employed some10,000 of its 30,000 scientists and technicians on agriculturally related issues.Consequently, USDA’s traditional mission of protecting U.S. livestock and crops againstdiseases and its extensive research and development facilities have been broadened toinclude national security matters. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Animal andPlant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS),and Office of Inspector General (OIG) have important capabilities. USDA’s budget forbioterrorism related initiatives was $11 million in fiscal year 1999; the President’s budgetfor fiscal year 2000 requests $10.6 million. However, a significant increase in funding infiscal year 2000 is being considered. 22USDA has established contacts with the Intelligence Community and is providing workingleveltechnical support to the Defense Intelligence Agency in analyzing data frominternational sources on crop disease projects. USDA has state-of-the-art genomics andmolecular biology capabilities. It plans to recruit staff with expertise and backgrounds inbiological warfare issues.Like HHS, USDA is actively involved in efforts to convert BW facilities in the former SovietUnion to legitimate uses. USDA’s most important contribution against WMD proliferationwill be in aiding the development of a robust veterinary science and pharmaceuticalindustry in Russia.Specific initiatives being considered include:• Law Enforcement and Investigative Activities ($45 million in fiscal 2000 – in APHIS,FSIS, and OIG for operational purposes that include safeguarding research on,collection of, and information on dangerous biological materials; strengthened BWinterception capacity at foreign locations and U.S. ports of entry; and specialized stafftraining, facilities, and equipment.)• Antiterrorism R&D ($186.5 million in fiscal 2000—in ARS to develop criticaltechnologies and avoid technological surprise).22“U.S. Agriculture: The Threat of Terrorism, Biological Weapons And Weapons of MassDestruction,” Committee on Emerging Threat Diseases, October 23, 1998.91