Chemical and Biological Defense: U.S. Forces Are Not Adequately Equipped to Detect All Threats

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) program to design, develop, and field chemical and biological agent detection equipment, focusing on: (1) whether U.S. forces had adequate chemical and biological detection capability during Operation Desert Storm; (2) what emphasis the Army has placed on the development of biological threat detection; and (3) whether chemical and biological detection requirements are identified early enough to direct basic chemical detection research and preliminary equipment development.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	To reduce the vulnerability of U.S. military forces to possible biological attack, the Secretary of Defense should ensure that the current chemical and biological detection research and development priorities are compatible with the requirements to meet current and emerging or anticipated threats.	Closed – Implemented DOD has established a joint-service program office that will evaluate detection requirements and ensure they are synchronized with research and development priorities.
Department of Defense	To reduce the vulnerability of U.S. military forces to possible biological attack, the Secretary of Defense should strengthen policies and procedures to ensure that those responsible for determining materiel requirements, for developing chemical and biological detection equipment, and for representing the forces that will actually use the equipment work closely together early in the process to address specific field requirements.	Closed – Implemented A joint service program office has been established to oversee development priorities and service detection requirements.

Full Report

Full Report (16 pages)

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Science and Technology

Biological agentsBiological researchBiological warfareChemical agentsChemical researchChemical warfareCombat readinessDefense capabilitiesDefense contingency planningMilitary materielWarning systemsWeapons research and developmentIraq War (1991)