A 2007 Homeland Security document outlines a plan for pandemic lockdowns, revealing extensive corporate involvement and severe restrictions on civil liberties.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

A document hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, written in 2007 but posted in March 2023, outlines a comprehensive plan for pandemic lockdowns, sparking concerns over its implications for civil liberties and constitutional law.

The document, a product of the George W. Bush administration, has drawn attention for its detailed approach to handling pandemics, which includes measures such as quarantine, travel restrictions, and the closure of public spaces. These strategies were seen in action during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising questions about the origins and planning behind such lockdowns.

Key points from the document include:

• Quarantine Measures: “Quarantine is a legally enforceable declaration that a government body may institute over individuals potentially exposed to a disease, but who are not symptomatic.”
• Coordination Between Agencies: “Federal quarantine laws will be coordinated between CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and State and local public health officials, and, if necessary, law enforcement personnel.”
• Travel Restrictions: “The government may also enact travel restrictions to limit the movement of people and products between geographic areas in an effort to limit disease transmission and spread.”
• Public Assembly Limitations: “Concert halls, movie theaters, sports arenas, shopping malls, and other large public gathering places might close indefinitely during a pandemic.”
• School and Business Closures: “Officials may close schools and non-essential businesses during pandemic waves in an effort to significantly slow disease transmission rates.”

The document suggests that these measures were intended to prevent the spread of influenza viruses, yet their implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted significant impacts on personal freedoms and economic activities. Notably, the Children’s Health Defense has criticized the measures for infringing on civil liberties.

Participants in drafting this blueprint included prominent figures from corporate America, including executives from companies such as ConAgra Foods, Microsoft, and Verizon. The involvement of such influential corporations has led to accusations of a corporatist agenda driving the lockdown strategies.

The extensive corporate representation in the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) underscores concerns about the influence of big business on public health policies. The council includes leaders from various sectors, emphasizing the intersection of corporate interests and government policies.

• Edmund G. Archuleta, general manager of El Paso Water Utilities.
• Alfred R. Berkeley III, chairman and CEO of Pipeline Trading Group LLC and former president and vice chairman of NASDAQ.
• Rebecca F. Denlinger, fire chief of Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services, in Georgia.
• Gilbert G. Gallegos, retired police chief of the Albuquerque Police Department, in New Mexico.
• Martha H. Marsh, president and CEO of Stanford Hospital and Clinics.
• James B. Nicholson, president and CEO of PVS Chemical Inc.
• Erle A. Nye, chairman emeritus, TXU Corp., NIAC chairman.
• Bruce A. Rohde, chairman and CEO emeritus of ConAgra Foods Inc.
• John W. Thompson, chairman and CEO of Symantec Corporation.
• Brent Baglien, ConAgra Foods Inc.
• David Barron, Bell South.
• Dan Bart, Telecommunications Industry Association.
• Scott Blanchette, Healthways.
• Donna Burns, Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
• Rob Clyde, Symantec Corporation.
• Scott Culp, Microsoft.
• Clay Detlefsen, International Dairy Foods Association.
• Dave Engaldo, The Options Clearing Corporation.
• Courtenay Enright, Symantec Corporation.
• Gary Gardner, American Gas Association.
• Bob Garfield, American Frozen Foods Institute.
• Joan Gehrke, PVS Chemical Inc.
• Sarah Gordon, Symantec.
• Mike Hickey, Verizon.
• Ron Hicks, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
• George Hender, The Options Clearing Corporation.
• James Hunter, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Emergency Management.
• Stan Johnson, North American Electric Reliability Council.
• David Jones, El Paso Corporation.
• Inspector Jay Kopstein, Operations Division, New York City Police Department.
• Tiffany Jones, Symantec Corporation.
• Bruce Larson, American Water.
• Charlie Lathram, Business Executives for National Security/BellSouth.
• Turner Madden, Madden & Patton.
• Mary Beth Michos, chief of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue, in Virginia.
• Bill Muston, TXU Corp.
• Vijay Nilekani, Nuclear Energy Institute.
• Phil Reitinger, Microsoft.
• Rob Rolfsen, Cisco Systems Inc.
• Tim Roxey, Constellation.
• Charyl Sarber, Symantec.
• Lyman Shaffer, Pacific Gas and Electric.
• Diane VanDeHei, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.
• Susan Vismor, Mellon Financial Corporation.
• Ken Watson, Cisco Systems Inc.
• Greg Wells, Southwest Airlines.
• Gino Zucca, Cisco Systems Inc.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Resources.
• Bruce Gellin, Rockefeller Foundation.
• Mary Mazanec.
• Dr. Stuart Nightingale, CDC.
• Julie Schafer.
• Dr. Ben Schwartz, CDC.
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Resources.
• James Caverly, director of Infrastructure Partnerships Division.
• Nancy Wong, NIAC Designated Federal Officer.
• Jenny Menna, NIAC Designated Federal Officer.
• Dr. Til Jolly.
• Jon MacLaren.
• Laverne Madison.
• Kathie McCracken.
• Bucky Owens.
• Dale Brown, contractor.
• John Dragseth, IP attorney, contractor.
• Jeff Green, contractor.
• Tim McCabe, contractor.
• William B. Anderson, ITS America.
• Michael Arceneaux, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.
• Chad Callaghan, Marriott Corporation.
• Ted Cromwell, American Chemistry Council.
• Jeanne Dumas, American Trucking Association.
• Joan Harris, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary.
• Greg Hull, American Public Transportation Association.
• Joe LaRocca, National Retail Federation.
• Jack McKlveen, United Parcel Service (UPS).
• Beth Montgomery, Wal-Mart.
• Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal, Georgia Office of EMS/Trauma/EP.
• Roger Platt, The Real Estate Roundtable.
• Martin Rojas, American Trucking Association.
• Timothy Sargent, Senior Chief, Economic Analysis and Forecasting Division, Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, Finance Canada.

Critics argue that the lockdown measures favor large corporations by disadvantaging small businesses. The closures of schools and non-essential businesses, as seen during the pandemic, disproportionately impacted small enterprises, while large corporations often benefited from reduced competition.

For example, companies like Walmart and Amazon saw significant increases in revenue during the pandemic, a phenomenon described by some as a transfer of wealth from small businesses to major corporations. The Children’s Health Defense has highlighted the economic disparities exacerbated by these policies.

The document also emphasizes the importance of managing information flows during a pandemic. It states: “The public and private sectors should align their communications, exercises, investments, and support activities absolutely with both the plan and priorities during a pandemic influenza event.”

This alignment of communications has led to criticisms of a lack of transparency and accountability in public health decisions. The Vaccine Safety Project has advocated for more open discussions and debates on these policies.

The historical context of the Public Health Services Act of 1944, which granted the federal government quarantine powers, remains relevant. This legislation served as the legal basis for many of the pandemic measures implemented, including transportation mask mandates.

As the world reflects on the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2007 Homeland Security blueprint provides insight into the planning and strategies that shaped these responses. The balance between public health and civil liberties continues to be a critical area of debate, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in future public health policies.