Nearly 800 people (in-person and online) joined HHS Secretary Azar and Dr. Kadlec in a public conversation April 17 to discuss non-federal biodefense actions that have been taken or are needed to protect the American people from biological threats. This input informs an assessment that will drive comprehensive coordination of federal biodefense actions and budgets, as called for in the National Biodefense Strategy.

The National Biodefense Strategy, released in September 2018, set the course for U.S. to combat the real and serious biothreats the country must be prepared to face and President Trump called on the HHS Secretary to lead the strong interagency collaboration required to implement the strategy. Stakeholders who missed the discussion still can provide input online to describe their biodefense-related activities and gaps they see.