2026 Budget Dissolves CWMD Office

The Department of Homeland Security’s fiscal 2026 budget would eliminate the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction directorate and split its functions among other DHS components.

The CWMD elimination would transfer 286 positions and $306 million in funding to other DHS components. Budget justification documents show DHS would shift CWMD strategy and policy functions to the Office of Policy within DHS headquarters. Meanwhile, CWMD’s National BioSurveillance Integration Center would move to the DHS office of Health Security.

The directorate’s operational programs and federal assistance would be transferred to CISA’s infrastructure security division. CISA would take over programs including BioWatch and “Securing the Cities,” one of CWMD’s marquee programs that helps state and local agencies detect radiological and nuclear materials that could be used in a terrorist attack. 

CWMD’s procurement of “large scale detection systems and handheld devices” would be split between the end users of those systems, including Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration and the Secret Service.

CWMD’s research and development funding would be transferred to the Coast Guard.