Critical Wastewater Monitoring Program Faces Funding Crisis Amid Rising Bioweapon Threats

By Jared Whitley
Monday, 10 November 2025 02:29 PM EST

The kick-off to the movie Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation featured Tom Cruise intercepting nerve gas smuggled through Belarus, a scenario highlighting how terrorists could target major cities or water supplies. Though the film is now 10 years old, the threat it portrays remains alarmingly relevant. The nation’s ability to counter such dangers—whether foreign, domestic, natural, or man-made—relies on maintaining existing tools like wastewater monitoring.

Wastewater monitoring enables tracking of infectious diseases, pathogens, and other threats by analyzing sewage facilities across the country. Established in 2021 with an annual budget of $125 million, the program operates nationwide, covering all 50 states, local jurisdictions, territories, and tribal communities. However, funding for the initiative expired at the end of September. Without congressional renewal, Americans risk losing this critical early warning system, leaving communities vulnerable to outbreaks or bioweapon attacks.

Republican-appointed former FDA commissioners Dr. Scott Gottlieb and Dr. Mark McClellan emphasized the program’s importance in recent discussions, citing warnings from 38 scientists about “mirror bacteria”—synthetic organisms designed to bypass existing anti-infective drugs. These pathogens, once beyond scientific reach, could now be developed in labs within a decade.

The article contrasts Cold War fears of nuclear weapons with modern concerns over affordable bioweapon labs, likening the threat to the 2019-2020 pandemic. Wastewater monitoring provides an anonymous, cost-effective way to detect health threats without individual testing. Its four-year track record demonstrates its efficiency, saving money by identifying risks early and avoiding new infrastructure costs.

If Congress fails to act, the nation will not only lose its investment but also send a dangerous signal to potential bioterrorists. The author argues that modern threats demand sustained vigilance and resources, urging lawmakers to prioritize this life-saving program over political disputes.