Is the US prepared to deal with another pandemic or widespread health crisis?
The US is better prepared in several key areas than it was before COVID-19 but is not fully ready for another major pandemic or widespread health crisis, according to expert assessments, government reports, and rankings. Significant progress has occurred in stockpiles, surveillance, institutional structures, and medical countermeasures, yet persistent gaps in funding, coordination, leadership, workforce, supply chains, and sustained political commitment leave vulnerabilities. Experts, including the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), describe the nation as still “dangerously vulnerable” and call for immediate action.[1]
Strengths and Progress Made
The US ranks highest globally on the Global Health Security (GHS) Index (score of 83.5 out of 100, 1st out of 195 countries in the latest available assessment). It scores particularly strongly in prevention (e.g., biosafety, immunization), detection/reporting (laboratory systems, surveillance, epidemiology workforce), and certain response and norms categories, far above global averages.[2]
Key improvements include:
The Biden-Harris Administration’s roadmap (released near the end of the term) highlighted these as building a stronger baseline, including for avian flu (H5N1) monitoring, testing, and vaccine stockpiling (e.g., millions of doses and mRNA development).[6]
Persistent Gaps and Challenges
Despite gains, multiple authoritative sources highlight unfinished business and risks of backsliding:
H5N1 (bird flu) circulating in US cattle and poultry, with human cases (mostly mild among workers), has tested systems and revealed ongoing One Health and agricultural-public health integration needs.[10]
Overall Assessment
The US has stronger tools, stockpiles, data infrastructure, and experience than in 2019–2020, positioning it better than most countries for detection, initial response, and MCM development. It can handle many localized or moderate threats more effectively. However, for a severe, novel, highly transmissible pandemic (or deliberate biothreat) on the scale of or worse than COVID—especially one straining hospitals nationwide, disrupting supply chains further, or occurring amid polarization and fiscal constraints—major shortfalls in sustained funding, unified leadership/coordination, workforce surge capacity, equitable access, and long-term resilience remain.
Preparedness is not a one-time achievement but requires continuous investment, exercises, bipartisan commitment, and addressing root issues like public health underfunding and trust. Reports from the Bipartisan Commission, GAO, CDC testimony, and others consistently urge closing these gaps now rather than waiting for the next crisis. Outcomes will also depend on state/local capacity, private sector partnerships, global cooperation (since pathogens do not respect borders), and political will under current and future administrations.
Citations (10)
- https://biodefensecommission.org/reports/the-national-blueprint-for-biodefense/
Backs: “Experts, including the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), describe the nation as still “dangerously vulnerable” and call for immediate action.”
- https://ghsindex.org/country/united-states/
Backs: “It scores particularly strongly in prevention (e.g., biosafety, immunization), detection/reporting (laboratory systems, surveillance, epidemiology workforce), and certain response and norms categories, far above global averages.”
- https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/14/report-the-biden-harris-administration-roadmap-for-pandemic-preparedness-and-response/
Backs: “PPE and other supplies have supported responses to H5N1 and other outbreaks.”
- https://www.cdc.gov/washington/testimony/2024/t20241114.htm
Backs: “CDC has advanced “One CDC” data platforms and lab partnerships (e.g., “warm base” contracts with clinical labs).”
- https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-releases-global-health-security-annual-report
Backs: “Billions invested in global health security (over $3 billion since 2020), supporting the Pandemic Fund, vaccine donations (nearly 700 million COVID doses), and responses to mpox, Ebola, and others.”
- https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-preparedness-trump-biden-192518a8e1414cf40bafefdc2bf1f5ca
Backs: “The Biden-Harris Administration’s roadmap (released near the end of the term) highlighted these as building a stronger baseline, including for avian flu (H5N1) monitoring, testing, and vaccine stockpiling (e.g., millions of doses and mRNA development).”
- https://www.stimson.org/2024/prepare-for-the-next-biothreat-now/
Backs: “Funding and performance measures for stockpiles and readiness need better definition.”
- https://center-forward.org/basic/pandemic-preparedness-strengthening-the-u-s-response-framework-2/
Backs: “Chronic underfunding of core public health infrastructure, workforce shortages (projected physician and other healthcare gaps), and state/local capacity persist.”
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-rejects-who-pandemic-changes-global-health-rules-2025-07-18/
Backs: “Recent policy shifts, such as US rejection of 2024 WHO International Health Regulations amendments, may affect international coordination.”
- https://www.statnews.com/2024/09/16/h5n1-spread-cow-herds-us-response-who-pandemic-preparedness/
Backs: “H5N1 (bird flu) circulating in US cattle and poultry, with human cases (mostly mild among workers), has tested systems and revealed ongoing One Health and agricultural-public health integration needs.”