he phrase “Whole of Government” has been invoked by international organizations, governments, and others to describe how to combat the spread of COVID-19. Speaking on April 9, 2020, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), called on leaders around the world to embrace a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.” Meanwhile, the number of global cases has climbed to over 4.3 million infected people with more than 292,000 people deceased. To be more than just talking points, a Whole of Government strategy needs to synchronize all the elements involved in a multi-faceted, long-term response to the novel coronavirus.
Regardless of the emergency, a Whole of Government approach involves public, private, non-profit, and other organizations working under a shared mission toward a joint goal. Utilizing such an approach, a leader assembles and manages each piece of the complex puzzle from response to recovery to leverage the agencies’ specialized resources and authorities, assessing the current situation as it evolves and shifts. Ideally, preplanning is a vital part of this so that agencies are not interacting for the first time during a crisis. When done well, the value of the Whole of Government approach is in its ability to provide a trusted framework and legitimate playbook for complex interagency operations.
Unfortunately, the first phase of our American response to COVID-19 has been fumbled. We lead the world with over 1.37 million cases and 82,000 deaths, with the future course of the pandemic still uncertain. But to improve things moving forward, we can incorporate the very best that a Whole of Government approach can offer and do more. We have the plans, the people, and the capability.
Federally Supported, State Managed, Locally Executed
While the initial response to the pandemic in the United States has been disjointed and many systems have been overwhelmed, there is still time to correct course. An opportunity exists for the Trump Administration to use the federal government’s power and collective bargaining strength to support and coordinate efforts across the nation and between states, allowing Governors to effectively support local response efforts. Implementing a true Whole of Government approach to the coronavirus response can potentially change the trajectory of the disease and how our society adapts to it.
Let the Science Lead
This virus does not respect borders and will not conform to economic agendas. At all times, response efforts must be guided by science and recognized experts. Moving past reactive task forces, the President should consider reestablishing the National Security Council (NSC) and the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) pandemic groups. These organizations, using preplanned elements of the non-partisan 2016 NSC Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emergency Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents, can provide clear instructions for states and interact with local governments. With uniform guidance and messaging, we may be able to limit hotspots like Albany, Georgia from occurring across the nation.
Clear Communication
A hallmark of any effective Whole of Government approach is clear, consistent communication and messaging by leaders. Both New Zealand and Germany are setting the bar for calm, empathetic, and informative communication that reassures citizens, explains the vital need for testing, and advances the argument for why shelter-in-place policies are critical despite the hardship these bring. With trust in the policy and the rationale for it, citizens are more likely to understand that short-term sacrifice is well worth it in order to protect the lives of their loved ones and to preserve an economy that will indeed reopen when it is safe to do so.
Supply Chain
Prior to April 3, 2020, the Strategic National Stockpile’s purpose was to serve as the “nation’s largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.” As early as 2017, the Trump Administration began prioritizing preparations for a biological and chemical attack over viruses and aligned funds accordingly, which seems to be impacting current response operations. As the virus spreads, the Trump Administration is largely encouraging States to secure their own supplies and changed the mission of Strategic National Stockpile to: “supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies.” In some cases, the federal government is even bidding against states and directing which companies receive awards by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To help refocus on viruses, a national system for the acquisition and distribution of COVID-19 medical supplies would ensure clearer organization of the states, manufacturers, and commercial suppliers. As soon as a vital supply is known to be low, this national system could also help President Trump quickly invoke parts of the Defense Production Act and transparently select a company to produce the item. Weeks will not lag between knowing there is a shortage of testing swabs and deciding to produce more.
Safe and Smart Reopening
Reopening states will require businesses to survive shelter-in-place orders, with cash available now so that employees and consumers stay alive and healthy to work and shop later. While the economic impacts of COVID-19 are stark, the path ahead will be far worse in the absence of interagency coordination. Efforts to reopen the country need to be harmonized across the nation, with state and local leaders learning the lessons from outbreaks in New York and New Orleans. If adopted by the Trump Administration, expert advice from respected organizations such as the Johns Hopkins University Public Health can provide a roadmap to direct governors, mayors, and county-level leaders to balance demands for the reopening of local businesses with the need to slow rates of infection. Without a national plan for the next year or two, we will likely have turmoil for years.
Preplanning, coordination, and being reflexive can save lives, build resilience, and help keep America steady for the challenges ahead. The current chaos can abate and make way for a comprehensive national strategy, with the Federal government supporting all operations as states manage and frontline locals execute. Whole of Government strategies will buy us time to do more diagnostic testing, antibody testing, and contract tracing, and ultimately to find a vaccine. So long as individual responses to the pandemic remain poorly coordinated and haphazard, we have a whole lot to lose.
a global affairs media network
Bring Back the Playbook: Whole of Government Approaches During COVID-19
May 14, 2020
T
he phrase “Whole of Government” has been invoked by international organizations, governments, and others to describe how to combat the spread of COVID-19. Speaking on April 9, 2020, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), called on leaders around the world to embrace a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.” Meanwhile, the number of global cases has climbed to over 4.3 million infected people with more than 292,000 people deceased. To be more than just talking points, a Whole of Government strategy needs to synchronize all the elements involved in a multi-faceted, long-term response to the novel coronavirus.
Regardless of the emergency, a Whole of Government approach involves public, private, non-profit, and other organizations working under a shared mission toward a joint goal. Utilizing such an approach, a leader assembles and manages each piece of the complex puzzle from response to recovery to leverage the agencies’ specialized resources and authorities, assessing the current situation as it evolves and shifts. Ideally, preplanning is a vital part of this so that agencies are not interacting for the first time during a crisis. When done well, the value of the Whole of Government approach is in its ability to provide a trusted framework and legitimate playbook for complex interagency operations.
Unfortunately, the first phase of our American response to COVID-19 has been fumbled. We lead the world with over 1.37 million cases and 82,000 deaths, with the future course of the pandemic still uncertain. But to improve things moving forward, we can incorporate the very best that a Whole of Government approach can offer and do more. We have the plans, the people, and the capability.
Federally Supported, State Managed, Locally Executed
While the initial response to the pandemic in the United States has been disjointed and many systems have been overwhelmed, there is still time to correct course. An opportunity exists for the Trump Administration to use the federal government’s power and collective bargaining strength to support and coordinate efforts across the nation and between states, allowing Governors to effectively support local response efforts. Implementing a true Whole of Government approach to the coronavirus response can potentially change the trajectory of the disease and how our society adapts to it.
Let the Science Lead
This virus does not respect borders and will not conform to economic agendas. At all times, response efforts must be guided by science and recognized experts. Moving past reactive task forces, the President should consider reestablishing the National Security Council (NSC) and the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) pandemic groups. These organizations, using preplanned elements of the non-partisan 2016 NSC Playbook for Early Response to High-Consequence Emergency Infectious Disease Threats and Biological Incidents, can provide clear instructions for states and interact with local governments. With uniform guidance and messaging, we may be able to limit hotspots like Albany, Georgia from occurring across the nation.
Clear Communication
A hallmark of any effective Whole of Government approach is clear, consistent communication and messaging by leaders. Both New Zealand and Germany are setting the bar for calm, empathetic, and informative communication that reassures citizens, explains the vital need for testing, and advances the argument for why shelter-in-place policies are critical despite the hardship these bring. With trust in the policy and the rationale for it, citizens are more likely to understand that short-term sacrifice is well worth it in order to protect the lives of their loved ones and to preserve an economy that will indeed reopen when it is safe to do so.
Supply Chain
Prior to April 3, 2020, the Strategic National Stockpile’s purpose was to serve as the “nation’s largest supply of life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for use in a public health emergency severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.” As early as 2017, the Trump Administration began prioritizing preparations for a biological and chemical attack over viruses and aligned funds accordingly, which seems to be impacting current response operations. As the virus spreads, the Trump Administration is largely encouraging States to secure their own supplies and changed the mission of Strategic National Stockpile to: “supplement state and local supplies during public health emergencies.” In some cases, the federal government is even bidding against states and directing which companies receive awards by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To help refocus on viruses, a national system for the acquisition and distribution of COVID-19 medical supplies would ensure clearer organization of the states, manufacturers, and commercial suppliers. As soon as a vital supply is known to be low, this national system could also help President Trump quickly invoke parts of the Defense Production Act and transparently select a company to produce the item. Weeks will not lag between knowing there is a shortage of testing swabs and deciding to produce more.
Safe and Smart Reopening
Reopening states will require businesses to survive shelter-in-place orders, with cash available now so that employees and consumers stay alive and healthy to work and shop later. While the economic impacts of COVID-19 are stark, the path ahead will be far worse in the absence of interagency coordination. Efforts to reopen the country need to be harmonized across the nation, with state and local leaders learning the lessons from outbreaks in New York and New Orleans. If adopted by the Trump Administration, expert advice from respected organizations such as the Johns Hopkins University Public Health can provide a roadmap to direct governors, mayors, and county-level leaders to balance demands for the reopening of local businesses with the need to slow rates of infection. Without a national plan for the next year or two, we will likely have turmoil for years.
Preplanning, coordination, and being reflexive can save lives, build resilience, and help keep America steady for the challenges ahead. The current chaos can abate and make way for a comprehensive national strategy, with the Federal government supporting all operations as states manage and frontline locals execute. Whole of Government strategies will buy us time to do more diagnostic testing, antibody testing, and contract tracing, and ultimately to find a vaccine. So long as individual responses to the pandemic remain poorly coordinated and haphazard, we have a whole lot to lose.
