Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
(ASPR)
Department of Health and Human ServicesHospital Preparedness Program; pandemic preparedness infrastructure; Strategic National Stockpile
What This Program Does
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) leads the federal government's efforts to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, including pandemics, natural disasters, and bioterror threats. It manages the Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies and runs the Hospital Preparedness Program, which helps hospitals and health systems plan for emergencies. ASPR was established in 2006 within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Who Would Be Affected
The Hospital Preparedness Program provides funding to hospitals, health care coalitions, and emergency medical systems across all 50 states and U.S. territories, supporting roughly 400 regional health care coalitions that coordinate emergency response. Communities that depend on these coalitions for disaster medical readiness — particularly rural and underserved areas with fewer health care resources — would be most directly affected. The Strategic National Stockpile, which supplies critical medicines and equipment during emergencies, could also see reduced capacity.
What This Cut Would Mean
A $0.4 billion reduction — roughly 20% of the agency's budget — would significantly scale back hospital emergency preparedness grants and could slow efforts to maintain or replenish the Strategic National Stockpile. The administration frames this as a restructuring of pandemic preparedness rather than an elimination of capability. However, public health experts and former preparedness officials have warned that reducing Hospital Preparedness Program funding could leave health systems less ready to handle surges during future pandemics, natural disasters, or other large-scale emergencies, with limited alternative funding sources available at the state or local level.
Administration's Stated Rationale
“Restructures pandemic preparedness; Hospital Preparedness Program funding reduced.”