ASPR continues to be at the leading edge of some of the most important work happening across HHS. From the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments to investing in advanced research and development, to helping communities respond to and prepare for public health emergencies, ASPR is there.

In recognition of our vital and growing mission, last week the President’s FY 2023 budget included a $3.6 billion request for ASPR, which is a nearly half-billion dollar increase over FY 2022, plus $40 billion over five years for pandemic preparedness. The budget request calls for strengthening of existing programs, funding for new and emerging focus areas, and serves as a signal for where we’re heading in the future and what type of organization we strive to be.

Topline increases (over the FY 2022 Omnibus) include:

• +$40 billion for Pandemic Preparedness for advanced development of vaccines and therapeutics against high priority viral families; investment in vaccine production capacity and domestic manufacturing; technology and manufacturing for new vaccine administration tools; and capital investment in active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing and innovation.


• +$133 million for the HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element (H-CORE) to sustain as a permanent capability, the operational and logistics capacity developed during the COVID-19 pandemic within ASPR. H-CORE builds on the previous HHS-DOD Countermeasures Acceleration Group and Operation Warp Speed.


• +$130 million to refill, restock, and right-size the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS has been chronically underfunded and we will continue to seek additional funding to ensure we have the medical countermeasures needed to protect the country.


• +$83 million for BARDA Advanced Research and Development to expand and invest in activities like increasing the number of antibiotics in the development pipeline to replace those that have been lost to antimicrobial resistance and the Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures (DRIVe) and its Medical Countermeasures Innovation Partner (MCIP), which will provide equity funding for research and development of innovative and disruptive healthcare technologies.


• +$82 million for Pandemic Influenza, which will allow us to build on COVID-19 lessons learned by investing in synthetic vaccine platforms, alternative delivery systems, and sustaining domestic manufacturing capacity.


• +$55 million for the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), which has deployed more than 90 medical surge support teams to communities and hospitals since the Delta wave of the pandemic. Additional funding will allow us to hire additional team members, invest in training, and ensure the teams are well equipped to do their work.

The President’s budget request reflects ASPR’s priorities moving forward and I look forward to working with Congress on securing these critical resources.