Press Release: Health Response Alliance Raises Concerns Over HHS Plan to Shift ASPR Under CDC

Washington, D.C. - Health Response Alliance today released a critical analysis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) proposed restructuring that would place the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While HHS has framed the move as a step toward modernization and efficiency, Health Response Alliance warns that the consolidation could weaken the nation's emergency response capacity at a time of increasing threats.
"ASPR was elevated for a reason-to lead emergency coordination with authority and speed," said Tom Cotter, CEO of Health Response Alliance. "Transferring that responsibility to an agency still working through internal reforms may compromise the very functions the country relies on during disasters, pandemics, and national emergencies."

ASPR currently oversees the Strategic National Stockpile, the National Disaster Medical System, and BARDA-key pillars of the federal response framework. These functions demand operational independence, rapid deployment capability, and coordination with a wide array of partners, including state and local health agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.

The proposed transition raises several concerns:
• Potential dilution of ASPR's unique mission within CDC's broader public health agenda
• Unclear command structure during emergencies
• Risks to critical programs if not explicitly protected
• Lack of transparency surrounding parallel workforce reductions across HHS

In a blog released today, Health Response Alliance outlines both the risks and conditional benefits of the move, calling for a clear implementation strategy, dedicated funding, and protections for emergency response authorities.

"The next crisis won't wait for organizational alignment," Cotter added. "This restructuring must be guided by readiness-not just reorganization."

Read the full blog: https://healthresponsealliance.org/evaluating-the-move-what-asprs-integration-into-the-cdc-means-for-us-emergency-preparedness

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Health Response Alliance
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Health Response Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening equitable access to healthcare before, during, and after emergencies. We work across sectors to enhance community resilience and ensure that preparedness systems protect the most vulnerable.