EPA hosted the first bed bug summit in April, 2009 to solicit recommendations from the public on how to address the growing problem with bed bugs. A recommendation from the first National Bed Bug Summit led six federal agencies to establish the Federal Bed Bug Workgroup in August of 2009.

The current workgroup comprises representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The workgroup serves as a forum for the federal government to work together on bed bug projects, such as this web site. The workgroup is a cooperative effort because no single federal agency has the lead in the fight against bed bugs.

A second summit, hosed by the Federal Bed Bug Workgroup, was held in February of 2011. A recommendation from the second summit led the workgroup to develop the Federal Strategy on Bed Bugs. This document is currently in draft form, but is expected to be finalized in by mid-2014.

For additional information on the summits or the federal strategy:

• First National Bed Bug Summit (April 2009)
• Second National Bed Bug Summit (February 2011)
• Draft Federal Bed Bug Strategy