| Agency Name: | DHS Office of Health Affairs |
| Seal: | Seal of the United States Department of Homeland Security.svg |
| Formed: | 2003 |
| Jurisdiction: | United States |
| Headquarters: | DHS Nebraska Avenue Complex, Washington D.C. |
| Employees: | 101 (2012) |
| Budget: | $0.2 billion (2012) |
| Chief1 Name: | Katherine Brinsfield, Assistant Secretary |
| Parent Agency: | Department of Homeland Security |
| Website: | 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]
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]
| 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 |