Dark Winter Bioterrorism Exercise
DARK WINTER
Opened by hand on August 3, 2026
What the document is
A senior level exercise simulating a covert smallpox attack on the United States, held weeks before September 2001, with findings on quarantine authority, vaccine supply, and the limits of federal power.
Why it is in the report
It is the earliest entry in this library and it establishes the pattern: rehearse the crisis, then write the policy.
Pull it yourself
- Open the tabletop exercise archive.
- Read the Dark Winter findings.
- Compare its recommendations with legislation passed afterward.
Cite this record
Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies. Dark Winter Bioterrorism Exercise. Tabletop exercise, 2001-06-22. https://centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-work/tabletop-exercises/dark-winter-a-training-tabletop-exercise