Climate Change & Bioterror: Why Our Defenses Are Dangerously Weak

In late March, David Richardson, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, stood in Chicago, meeting with local leaders about two programs meant to protect us from unthinkable threats. BioWatch and Securing the Cities aim to detect biological and nuclear dangers before they spiral into catastrophe. These initiatives sound like the stuff of Hollywood thrillers, but the reality is far less glamorous, and far more urgent. We’re living in an era where climate change breeds new diseases, synthetic biology opens Pandora’s box, and nuclear risks loom larger than ever. Yet, these programs, our first line of defense, are creaking under the weight of outdated tech and bureaucratic inertia.

Let’s be real. The idea that a network of scientists, emergency managers, and law enforcement can keep us safe 24/7 across 30 major cities is inspiring. It’s the kind of bold, collective action that defines what government can do when it prioritizes people over politics. But inspiration alone doesn’t cut it when the stakes are this high. BioWatch, launched after the 2001 anthrax attacks, was a pioneering effort to sniff out airborne biological attacks. Securing the Cities, born in 2007, arms local agencies to stop radiological or nuclear terrorism in its tracks. Both are noble in intent, yet both are faltering, and that’s a failure we can’t afford.

The truth stings. These programs aren’t just underfunded; they’re stuck in the past. BioWatch’s sensors miss most known biological agents, and Securing the Cities struggles to keep its people trained and its gear cutting-edge. Meanwhile, the threats evolve faster than our defenses. This isn’t about pointing fingers, it’s about facing facts. If we want to protect our cities, our families, our future, we need to demand more than incremental tweaks. We need a revolution in how we tackle these invisible killers.

BioWatch operates in over 30 metropolitan areas, a sprawling web of sensors meant to catch the first whiff of a bioterror attack. Chicago’s team told Richardson they value the program, but value isn’t the same as effectiveness. Studies stretching back years reveal a system plagued by false positives and delays, sometimes taking hours or days to confirm a threat. With an $80 million annual price tag, that’s a steep cost for a tool that often cries wolf. Experts have begged for next-generation tech, something that can spot a wider range of pathogens in real time. Instead, efforts like Biodetection 21 have stalled, leaving us with a relic from 2003 in a world that’s moved on.

Then there’s Securing the Cities, equipping places like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles with radiation detectors and training. Since 2007, it’s poured $300 million into 13 high-risk regions, outfitting law enforcement with wearable gear and running drills for thousands. It’s a lifeline for urban safety, no question. But dig into the details, and the picture darkens. Staff turnover guts continuity, training schedules clash with real-world demands, and performance metrics remain fuzzy. Richardson’s visit highlighted a need for better equipment, yet the program’s own leaders admit they’re playing catch-up in a game where the other side doesn’t wait.

Contrast this with what’s at stake. Climate change is pushing zoonotic diseases like avian flu into new territories, while synthetic biology lets rogue actors cook up pathogens in labs. The World Health Organization calls biological weapons a top-tier global risk, right up there with nuclear threats. And on the radiological front, portable detectors are getting cheaper and sharper, with a market set to hit $4.2 billion by 2033. Private industry is leaping ahead, so why is our government lagging? The answer isn’t incompetence, it’s priorities. Too often, funding gets funneled to flashy projects or tax breaks, not the gritty work of keeping us safe.

Some argue these programs are fine as they are, that the risk of attack is low, and we’re overreacting. They point to years without a major incident as proof. That’s a dangerous gamble. Absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence, especially when intelligence reports warn of growing capabilities among terrorists and hostile states. Playing defense with yesterday’s tools isn’t pragmatism, it’s negligence. We don’t wait for a fire to buy smoke alarms, so why wait for a disaster to fix what’s broken?

The Department of Homeland Security’s CWMD Office, overseeing both efforts, has a $418 million budget for 2025. That’s a start, but it’s not enough when you consider the scope. They’re coordinating with FEMA, tapping DARPA for tech ideas, and running risk assessments. Good steps, sure. Yet without a clear push to overhaul BioWatch’s sensors or fast-track Securing the Cities’ upgrades, it’s like mopping the floor during a flood. We need action, not just meetings.

Here’s where we stand. Our cities are vulnerable, not because we lack the will, but because we lack the vision to match the moment. BioWatch could be a world-class shield if we poured resources into real-time sensors, linked them to public health networks, and expanded coverage beyond 22 states. Imagine a system that catches synthetic bugs as fast as it spots anthrax, saving lives before panic sets in. Securing the Cities could lead the charge against nuclear terror if we doubled down on training, locked in clear goals, and got those detectors into every first responder’s hands. This isn’t fantasy, it’s necessity.

We’ve got the brains to make it happen. NASA and DARPA are already tinkering with biodetection breakthroughs. The private sector’s radiation tech is booming, with innovations like network-connected detectors that could transform how we patrol our streets. What’s missing is the political guts to prioritize this over short-term wins. Every dollar spent on prevention saves ten in recovery, and countless lives besides. Chicago’s leaders know it, Richardson knows it, and deep down, we all do. It’s time to stop tinkering and start building the future our safety demands.