Chemical and Biological Defense

Emphasis Remains Insufficient to Resolve Continuing Problems Gao ID: T-NSIAD-96-123 March 12, 1996

U.S. troops remain highly vulnerable to attack from biological and chemical agents because the Defense Department has yet to address many shortcomings identified during the Persian Gulf War, including inadequate training, a lack of decontamination kits and other equipment, and a shortage of vaccine stocks. Problems in chemical and biological defense are likely to continue unless the Pentagon designates this area a higher priority. The Defense Department has spent less than one percent of its budget on chemical and biological warfare defense, and from 1992 to 1995, funding in real terms fell by 30 percent.



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