On December 21, 2023, Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) Mary Ellen Callahan marked the fifth anniversary of the office’s establishment and called for its reauthorization. Highlighting the real threat of weapons of mass destruction terrorism, Callahan emphasized the need for a holistic approach to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

Congress established the CWMD Office in 2018 to consolidate and streamline Department of Homeland Security efforts. The office coordinates nationwide detection efforts, provides financial and operational support, and enhances preparedness and response capabilities. President Biden, through an Executive Order on AI, tasked CWMD with evaluating and mitigating the potential misuse of AI in developing WMDs, including the misuse of synthetic nucleic acids. The President directed CWMD to assess the impact of AI on lowering barriers to WMD development and to establish a framework for synthetic-nucleic acid screening, setting standardized expectations for third-party audits to prevent abuse and proliferation by malicious actors.

“The threat of armas de destruição maciça terrorism is real. Five years ago, in the face of a dynamic, evolving threat environment, legislators recognized that the U.S. needed a more holistic approach to countering chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats to the Homeland,” said CWMD Assistant Secretary Mary Ellen Callahan. “By authorizing CWMD, the legislators enabled us to enhance and coordinate the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear detection efforts of federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to improve preparedness and response capabilities throughout the United States. We look forward to continuing this essential mission to protect the American people.”

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Crédito da imagem do post: Adobe Stock por Sundry Photography