DHS Office of Health Affairs

The Office of Health Affairs (OHA) is a component within the United States Department of Homeland Security. OHA provides health and medical expertise in support of the department's mission to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards affecting the nation’s health security. This included the execution of ″Project BioWatch″, an early warning detection network of air samplers in more than 30 US cities.[1]

DHS Office of Health Affairs
Agency overview
Formed2003
JurisdictionUnited States
HeadquartersDHS Nebraska Avenue Complex, Washington D.C.
Employees101 (2012)
Annual budget$0.2 billion (2012)
Agency executive
  • Katherine Brinsfield, Assistant Secretary
Parent agencyDepartment of Homeland Security
WebsiteDHS Office of Health Affairs

The Office of Health Affairs was led by the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Health Affairs, who also serves as the DHS chief medical officer and who is appointed by the President of the United States with confirmation by the United States Senate. The current assistant secretary is Katherine Brinsfield. The OHA was absorbed into the DHS Countering WMD Office in 2018.[2]


Budget

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DHS Health Affairs Budget, FY11-13 ($ in thousands) [3]
Line Item FY11 Actual FY12 Actual FY13 Request
Salaries and Expenses 26,999 29,671 27,757
BioWatch 100,780 114,164 125,294
National Biosurvelliance Integration Center 7,000 12,013 8,000
Planning and Coordination 2,276 6,162 4,907
Chemical Defense Program 2,400 5,439 500
Total Budget 139,455 167,449 166,458

References

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  1. ^ "The Truth About BioWatch | Homeland Security".
  2. ^ "Office of Health Affairs Organizational Chart | Homeland Security".
  3. ^ "Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Budget Budget in Brief, DHS, pg 141" (PDF). Department of Homeland Security. 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
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