Department of War Establishes the Directed Energy Bio-Effects Cross-Functional Team, Delivering First HAVANA Act Payments

Under the direction of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering, the Department of War officially renamed the Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI) Cross-Functional Team (CFT) to the Directed Energy Bio-Effects (DEBE) CFT, while the team continues to facilitate the multifaceted implementation of enduring processes, procedures, and capabilities.

The Department is fully meeting Congressional intent regarding non-kinetic threats by applying a more dedicated warfighter and medical focus to this mission and expanding collaboration with interagency partners to coordinate vital research efforts. The Department is prioritizing the care of affected personnel and has disbursed nearly $3 million in compensation, representing the first HAVANA Act payments made under any presidential administration.

The Department will continue to emphasize transparency and scientific integrity to achieve validated outcomes, improve care for affected individuals, and adapt to a dynamic operational environment. These steps toward normalization will accelerate integrated CFT and partner component initiatives.

The Department of War's commitment to mitigating non-kinetic threats remains absolute.