Washington, DC – August 7, 2026 – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the state of Washington to address the health impacts of the ongoing wildfires. The fires have threatened communities across the state, disrupting healthcare services and requiring some hospitals and other healthcare facilities to evacuate patients and transfer them to partner facilities to ensure continuity of care.

The declaration follows President Trump’s emergency declaration and gives the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) healthcare providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

“I declared a Public Health Emergency for Washington State to give hospitals and healthcare providers the flexibility they need to respond to these devastating wildfires and protect lives,” said Secretary Kennedy. “In my conversations with Governor Bob Ferguson I made clear that HHS will work alongside state and local leaders to keep care available, support frontline healthcare professionals, and help Washington communities through this emergency. We stand with the people of Washington, and we will not let them face this crisis alone.”

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is coordinating with Washington State officials, local partners, and federal agencies to support the public health and medical response. ASPR has deployed regional staff to the Washington State Emergency Operations Center and the FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center and stands ready to provide additional support — including healthcare responders, medical equipment, and supplies — if requested by the state. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are supporting American Red Cross shelter operations in Spokane, while ASPR TRACIE, HHS’ healthcare emergency preparedness information gateway, has shared technical resources on wildfire smoke, burn care, healthcare system preparedness, and responder safety.

“We know these wildfires have placed enormous strain on patients and their families, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities, emergency responders, and entire communities,” said John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. “ASPR is prepared to support Washington’s healthcare system by deploying personnel, medical equipment, and other resources as requested so providers can continue delivering care when communities need it most.”

The HHS Disaster Distress Helpline is available to provide disaster crisis counseling. Managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this toll-free, multilingual crisis support service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all residents in the United States and its territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. To connect with a trained counselor, call or text 1-800-985-5990.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reached out to the Washington State Department of Health and public health partners to offer technical assistance with environmental health and health and safety messaging. CDC is standing by to support any public health needs.

To support emergency planning and response activities, HHS has made information available through the HHS emPOWER Program, a partnership between ASPR and CMS. The program provides data on Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment and certain health care services, such as dialysis, oxygen or home healthcare, to help emergency planners identify and support at-risk populations.

In declaring the public health emergency and authorizing flexibilities for CMS hospitals and providers, suppliers and beneficiaries, Secretary Kennedy acted under his authority pursuant to the Public Health Service Act and Social Security Act. These actions and flexibilities are retroactive to August 1, 2026. 
 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 20, 2026) — As communities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) transition from response to recovery following Typhoon Bavi, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), is expanding federal health and medical support. The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) and other recovery resources will help meet ongoing community needs while federal medical teams sustain hospital operations.

To help meet the ongoing health needs of affected communities, ASPR has activated the EPAP for residents of Saipan, Rota, and Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The program helps uninsured individuals replace essential prescription medications and certain medical equipment lost or damaged due to Typhoon Bavi.

EPAP enables eligible individuals to receive up to a 30-day supply of prescription medications at no cost from participating pharmacies. Refills may be authorized in 30-day increments for as long as the program remains active. In addition, EPAP can cover replacement of select durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies, including items such as canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, blood glucose meters, and test strips. Certain vaccinations administered at retail pharmacies may also be eligible.

ASPR has also deployed a six-person Disaster Behavioral Health Team to support the behavioral health needs of affected communities and responders. Working alongside territorial officials and federal partners, the team will provide behavioral health expertise, technical assistance, and support throughout recovery operations.

A National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Health and Medical Task Force (HMTF) provided clinical support at Commonwealth Health Center in Saipan, providing care to more than 350 patient encounters while helping sustain essential health care services following Typhoon Bavi. Additional surge support remains available if requested as recovery needs evolve.

"Recovery means helping communities restore the health services people rely on every day," said John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. "Whether supporting hospital operations, expanding access to prescription medications, or providing behavioral health expertise, ASPR is committed to helping our territorial partners recover safely and restore access to essential health services."

People experiencing emotional distress related to Typhoon Bavi can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 1-800-985-5990 or texting TalkWithUs to 66746. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing confidential support in more than 100 languages. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may access the service through videophone.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a wide range of health and safety resources on its website, specifically addressing storm recovery. 

On July 9, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. declared a public health emergency for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands following Typhoon Bavi. The declaration followed President Trump's emergency declarations and supports the federal government's ongoing health and medical response and recovery efforts. 

For the latest information on HHS response and recovery activities, visit www.aspr.gov.

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Today, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), released the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise (PHEMCE) Multiyear Budget (MYB) for fiscal years 2025–2029, outlining the resources needed to strengthen the nation’s medical countermeasure preparedness.

The multiyear budget highlights the investments needed across four HHS agencies – ASPR, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – to prepare for a wide range of threats—from pandemics and antimicrobial resistance to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents. The total estimated funding need is $66.9 billion over five years.

“The PHEMCE Multiyear Budget reflects the continued importance of a coordinated, forward-looking approach to medical countermeasure preparedness,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Knox. “These investments will strengthen our ability to develop, manufacture, and deliver lifesaving medical countermeasures when they are needed most.” The PHEMCE is an interagency body that evaluates the threat landscape and advises the HHS Secretary on priorities for developing, procuring, and deploying medical countermeasures. This MYB reflects the full scope of assessed resource needs and is intended to inform long-term planning alongside the President’s Budget.

The report highlights key priorities, including:

• Advancing threat-agnostic and multi-threat technologies, which account for approximately 65 percent of the total projected need

• Strengthening preparedness for emerging infectious diseases, including pandemic influenza and antimicrobial resistance

• Sustaining and expanding domestic manufacturing capacity to ensure rapid, scalable response capabilities

• Supporting the Strategic National Stockpile, including the transition and replenishment of critical MCMs

• Maintaining capabilities against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats while addressing new and evolving risks

The MYB also outlines the growing resource demands associated with transitioning newly developed products into the Strategic National Stockpile and sustaining existing inventories, alongside continued investment in research, development, and regulatory pathways.

The table below presents PHEMCE’s estimated funding needs by HHS Division and fiscal year (dollars in millions). FY 2025 reflects enacted levels, FY 2026 reflects the President’s Budget, and FY 2027–FY 2029 reflect PHEMCE’s estimates based on agency professional judgment.
 

These investments will help strengthen the nation’s ability to respond more quickly and effectively to future public health emergencies. Read the full multiyear budget here. 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 9, 2026) — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) for the U.S. territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) following Typhoon Bavi. The declaration follows President Donald Trump’s Emergency Declarations for Guam and CNMI and supports the federal government’s coordinated public health and medical response.

“The people of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are not facing this storm alone,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Today, I declared a Public Health Emergency so HHS can move faster, expand critical healthcare flexibilities, and deliver the support communities need. We have already positioned federal health and medical teams to respond, and we will continue working alongside territorial leaders to protect lives, restore healthcare services, and help these communities recover as quickly and safely as possible.”

The Public Health Emergency declaration enables the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide emergency flexibilities that help healthcare providers and suppliers continue serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries during the response. Existing CMS emergency waivers and Section 1135 flexibilities already in effect for Guam and CNMI following Typhoon Sinlaku remain available while CMS implements additional authorities under the new declaration.

Ahead of Typhoon Bavi’s passage, HHS’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) pre-deployed a Health and Medical Situational Assessment Team (HMSAT), including ASPR regional emergency response personnel, to Guam and Saipan in the Commonwealth. Two seven-person National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Health and Medical Task Forces and an Incident Management Team (IMT) also deployed in advance to support response operations following the storm. This forward posture enables ASPR to rapidly support federal, territorial, and local partners as damage assessments are completed and health care needs are identified.

“Preparedness means getting the right people and resources into position before they’re needed,” said John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. “By pre-positioning our HMSAT, IMT, and NDMS responders, ASPR is ready to move quickly when requested to help our territorial partners restore access to healthcare and support emerging medical needs.”

ASPR continues to coordinate closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the governments of Guam and CNMI, and other federal partners to support a unified response. Additional NDMS teams remain on standby to deploy if needed. Disaster behavioral health personnel are also prepared to deploy as response and recovery operations continue.

The HHS emPOWER Program, a partnership between ASPR and CMS, has made its disaster response datasets available to support operations in Guam and CNMI. The datasets help emergency managers and public health officials identify Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment and certain healthcare services, including oxygen equipment, dialysis, ventilators, and home health services. During disasters, these data support life-safety operations by helping responders prioritize outreach to individuals who may be at greater risk because of prolonged power outages or disruptions in access to care. More information is available at https://empowerprogram.hhs.gov. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has many health and safety materials available on its website, including storm safety, food safety, and power outage safety information. CDC has shared vital health and safety messaging and communication materials with public health officials in affected territories. CDC stands by to support any public health activities as needed.

People experiencing emotional distress related to Typhoon Bavi can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 1-800-985-5990 or texting TalkWithUs to 66746. Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing confidential support in more than 100 languages. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may access the service through videophone. 

For the latest information on HHS response activities, visit www.aspr.gov. 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 26, 2026) — The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is supporting international efforts to respond to the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda through the deployment of investigational medical countermeasures, advancement of vaccine and therapeutic development, and continued investments in domestic preparedness.

The current outbreak involves Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a species for which there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics. ASPR, through its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), is leveraging longstanding public-private partnerships and global collaborations to help address immediate response needs while accelerating development of medical countermeasures that could improve future outbreak preparedness.

“As outbreaks emerge around the world, ASPR’s mission is to ensure the United States and our partners have the tools needed to respond rapidly and effectively,” said ASPR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Knox. “Our investments in medical countermeasure development and preparedness are helping support the current response while building the foundation for future medical countermeasures and stronger preparedness against Ebola and other high-consequence infectious diseases.”

Supporting the Current Response

As part of a coordinated U.S. government effort, ASPR is supporting the transfer of investigational doses of MBP134, a monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate developed through a partnership between BARDA and Mapp Biopharmaceutical, for compassionate use in the DRC and Uganda. ASPR is also supporting the transfer of doses to the University of Oxford for use in a randomized clinical trial evaluating the safety and potential efficacy of MBP134 against Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

MBP134 has demonstrated activity against multiple Ebola virus species in preclinical studies supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and has completed a Phase 1 clinical safety trial. Data generated during the outbreak response may help inform future regulatory review and potential pathways toward licensure.

To support ongoing response efforts, BARDA has pre-positioned 2,500 rapid diagnostic tests (OraSure) through federal partners for potential deployment in Africa. The tests, which are used to screen deceased individuals for Ebola infection, can detect multiple Ebola virus species, including Bundibugyo ebolavirus, and help public health teams investigate suspected cases and guide outbreak control activities.

Accelerating Medical Countermeasure Development

In addition to supporting investigational therapeutics and pre-positioning diagnostic tests, BARDA is advancing vaccine development efforts specifically targeting Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

A recently released Request for Project Proposals through BARDA’s Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle Consortium seeks to accelerate the development and production of investigational Bundibugyo vaccine candidates. The effort will leverage the same vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine platform technology used in ERVEBO, the first FDA-licensed vaccine for Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus strain.

The initiative aims to identify vaccine candidates for potential preclinical and clinical evaluation during the current outbreak while advancing longer-term Bundibugyo vaccine development. BARDA is also coordinating with global partners, including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, to assess additional vaccine candidates and scientific data that may inform both the current response and future preparedness efforts.

Over the past decade, BARDA-supported partnerships have helped advance ERVEBO, as well as two FDA-approved therapeutics (Inmazeb and Ebanga) for Zaire ebolavirus and an FDA-cleared rapid antigen diagnostic test (OraQuick). These efforts are part of ASPR’s broader mission to strengthen national preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases.  

Preparing the United States

While the risk to the American public remains low, ASPR continues to strengthen domestic preparedness through the National Special Pathogen System, a nationwide network designed to safely identify, transport, and care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases.

ASPR’s Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers remain prepared to evaluate and treat patients if needed, while the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center continues providing training, technical assistance, clinical guidance, and preparedness resources to healthcare facilities across the country.

Together, these capabilities help ensure the United States remains ready to respond to Ebola and other emerging infectious disease threats while supporting global efforts to contain outbreaks at their source.

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WASHINGTON D.C. — The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced the launch of the DS-MRN Challenge: Digital Stockpile & Manufacturing Response Network. The challenge is led by ASPR’s Center for Industrial Base Management and Supply Chain (IBMSC) and will award up to $2.04 million for innovative solutions that strengthen the nation’s ability to rapidly produce and distribute critical medical products during public health emergencies and supply chain disruptions.

The challenge invites innovators from industry, academia, nonprofit organizations, and government to develop concepts for a future Digital Stockpile & Manufacturing Response Network. Through a three-phase competition, participants will design and validate approaches that strengthen domestic medical manufacturing, supply chain coordination, and emergency response capabilities.

“America's medical supply resilience depends not only on what we stockpile today, but on how quickly we can mobilize domestic manufacturing capabilities tomorrow,” said John Knox, ASPR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. “The DS-MRN Prize Challenge is an opportunity to harness American innovation to develop new models for secure information sharing, distributed manufacturing, and coordinated response. The ideas generated through this challenge could help shape the future of medical supply preparedness and strengthen our nation's health security.”

Addressing a Critical National Health Security Need

Discussions across public and private sectors have identified opportunities to improve how manufacturing specifications, technical expertise, and production capabilities are shared and mobilized during emergencies. While manufacturers can often expand production during a crisis, response times may still be insufficient to meet urgent national demand.

The envisioned DS-MRN would create a secure digital infrastructure that stores manufacturing specifications and connects them with a network of vetted domestic manufacturers ready to produce critical medical products during shortages. By establishing these relationships and technical assets before an emergency, the United States could[GA1.1][JR1.2] respond more quickly to supply chain disruptions and public health crises.

Competition Structure

The competition includes three phases: Concept Development, Innovation Development, and Live Validation.

Up to eight finalists will receive $5,000 prizes in Phase 1 and advance to an in-person pitch event in Washington, D.C. Up to three pitch event winners will receive $150,000 each. Phase 2 winning teams will refine and mature their concepts through two development milestones, with up to $150,000 in additional milestone prizes available per team. Finalists advancing to the Live Validation phase will test their solutions in real-world simulations and compete for a share of up to $1.1 million. In total, ASPR may award up to $2.04 million in prizes.

ASPR will host a series of DS-MRN Challenge Prize virtual information sessions beginning in July 2026. To register for the events or to learn more about the competition, visit the prize ch​allenge website.

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