Health role for homeland security department debated.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs

IN MAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF Homeland Security released its "National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza" report detailing who will be responsible and for what in the event of a massive outbreak. The report says "overall domestic incident management and federal coordination" should reside with DHS. However, there is growing consensus that DHS should not take the lead in the event of such an emergency. DHS is more about "badges and guns" than public health, critics have maintained.

The Department of Health and Human Services should be the "center of gravity" if a public health crisis should strike, said Bob Kadlec, staff director of the Senate subcommittee on bio-terrorism and public health preparedness.

The lessons of Hurricane Katrina pointed out the need to consolidate command and control during disasters. "The [HHS] assistant secretary for public health and emergency preparedness should be the theater commander" in the event of a national health crisis, Kadlec said at the National Press Club.

DHS appointed Dr. Jeff Runge last year as its chief medical officer, but he has a small staff and a miniscule budget, prompting congressional leaders to ask what exactly his role is and whether he can effectively carry it out. He is also splitting his time as acting undersecretary for science and technology.

The White House has also endorsed transferring the national...