Category: Anti-Science

Trump Exploits L.A. Wildfires to Attack Newsom Amid Crisis

As devastating wildfires ravaged Los Angeles, former President Donald Trump chose not to express sympathy or solidarity with the affected communities. Instead, he exploited the crisis to target California Governor Gavin Newsom, labeling him “Gavin Newscum” and assigning blame for the catastrophic fires. This reckless rhetoric distracts from the real factors contributing to the fires, such as climate change and seasonal Santa Ana winds, and demonstrates Trump’s pattern of using disasters as political tools.

The Los Angeles fires have caused immense destruction, resulting in at least 11 fatalities and the loss of thousands of homes, covering over 36,000 acres. In any sane political environment, such a disaster could unite leaders across party lines to address the crisis and support recovery efforts. However, Trump’s actions highlight his refusal to engage in bipartisan cooperation and his relentless pursuit of personal and political advantage, even amid tragedies impacting countless lives.

Critics assert that this approach is far from surprising given Trump’s long history of divisive and incendiary remarks, particularly regarding adversity experienced in Democratic-run areas. Carmen Yulín Cruz, former mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, emphasized that Trump’s behavior remains unchanged since his response to Hurricane Maria in 2017, indicating a continuous pattern of antagonism rather than empathy. His tactic of portraying opponents as scapegoats undermines meaningful discussions on disaster management and recovery.

Trump’s strategy reflects a broader trend among Republicans, who prioritize political expedience over genuine support for communities devastated by climate-related disasters. Such behavior not only reveals a lack of compassion but also promotes a dangerous culture of blame and division, undermining collaborative recovery efforts essential for rebuilding lives and infrastructure.

The situation in Los Angeles serves as a stark reminder of the need for responsible leadership during times of crisis. By failing to acknowledge the real reasons behind the wildfires and instead choosing to vilify political opponents, Trump and his supporters continue to propagate a culture of fear and mistrust that ultimately hinders progress in addressing urgent issues like climate change and disaster preparedness.

(h/t: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/us/politics/trump-wildfires-los-angeles.html)

Trump’s Authoritarian Rhetoric and Dangerous Anti-Vaccine Agenda

Donald Trump has recently delivered a fiery speech in Phoenix, Arizona, where he condemned the so-called ‘woke’ culture, labeling it as ‘bulls**t’ and claiming it is harming the country. His inflammatory rhetoric is not just a casual observation but part of a broader trend where Trump appeals to far-right ideologies, reminiscent of authoritarian tactics. Trump’s remarks signal a dangerous regression in political discourse as he rallies support from conservative audiences by attacking progressive values.

In addition to his tirade against ‘woke’ culture, Trump announced his intention to investigate the alarming increase in autism diagnoses among children, which he attributed to unspecified causes. He cited statistics showing a spike from one in 10,000 children diagnosed 25 years ago to one in 36 now, leveraging these figures to promote his agenda. This unfounded focus aligns with his long-standing association with anti-vaccine movements, which poses a significant risk to public health.

Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services further underscores his anti-vaccine stance. Kennedy, known for his controversial views on vaccines, is expected to support Trump’s initiatives aimed at addressing the rise in autism and childhood diseases. This choice has raised alarms among public health experts who recognize the dangers of placing an anti-vaccine advocate in such a pivotal role.

The former president’s narrative also reflects a broader Republican strategy that targets progressive policies, such as diversity initiatives and LGBTQ rights, as part of their campaign against ‘wokeism.’ This tactic serves to mobilize conservative voters by framing these issues as threats to traditional values, effectively creating a scapegoat for societal challenges without addressing the underlying causes.

Trump’s rhetoric and policy proposals not only reflect a disconnection from scientific consensus but also contribute to a culture of misinformation surrounding vaccines and public health. The ongoing promotion of debunked theories linking vaccines to autism is a clear example of how Trump’s agenda aligns with anti-science sentiments, undermining efforts to protect public health and fostering a dangerous environment for future generations.

(h/t: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14219213/amp/trump-vows-rfk-jr-investigate-autism-rise-children.html)

Trump’s Dangerous Return to Anti-Vaccine Rhetoric Signals Public Health Crisis

Donald Trump’s recent comments signal a dangerous return to anti-vaccine rhetoric, raising concerns among health experts. In an interview, Trump hinted at possibly altering childhood vaccination programs and questioned the debunked link between vaccines and autism, aligning himself with the misinformation that has fueled vaccine skepticism. This echoes his past statements where he falsely attributed the rise in autism diagnoses to vaccinations, despite overwhelming scientific evidence disproving this claim.

Trump’s choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notorious vaccine skeptic, to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) exemplifies his administration’s troubling direction. Trump’s suggestion of conducting ‘serious testing’ on vaccines lacks clarity and threatens to undermine public trust in vaccines that are already proven safe and effective. Experts warn that such rhetoric could endanger the significant public health achievements made in controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.

The origins of the vaccine-autism myth stem from a fraudulent study published by Andrew Wakefield in 1998, which has since been retracted due to its unfounded conclusions. Despite this, Trump continues to perpetuate the idea, suggesting that there is a need for more research into vaccine safety. This not only misrepresents the extensive scientific work already done but also risks a chilling effect on vaccination rates, potentially leading to outbreaks of diseases that have been nearly eradicated.

Public health advocates express deep concern over the implications of Trump’s return to anti-vaccine sentiments. If his administration pushes vaccine-skeptical policies, it could reverse decades of progress in immunization efforts. The potential withdrawal of approved vaccines without solid scientific justification could provoke legal challenges and further public distrust in health authorities.

As Trump prepares to take office again, the ramifications of his anti-science stance could have dire consequences for the nation’s public health. Experts emphasize that the head of HHS must be committed to scientific integrity, and Trump’s history of undermining credible medical advice raises alarms about the future of public health policy under his leadership.

(h/t: https://time.com/7201582/donald-trump-vaccines-fact-check-2024/)

Trump’s CDC Pick Dr. Weldon: A Dangerous Choice for Public Health

Dr. Dave Weldon, a former congressman, has been unexpectedly nominated by President Trump to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With a long absence from the political arena, Weldon’s selection raises eyebrows, especially as he has aligned views with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric. Despite decades of scientific evidence debunking the false link between vaccines and autism, Weldon has previously echoed similar sentiments, questioning vaccine safety.

Weldon’s professional background now consists of running a private medical practice in Florida, which casts doubt on his qualifications to manage a federal agency with a budget of $9 billion and a workforce exceeding 13,000 professionals. His lack of recent experience in public health policy is concerning, especially during a time when the nation faces ongoing public health crises.

Despite describing himself as a supporter of vaccination, Weldon’s past efforts to remove mercury from childhood vaccines indicate a troubling alignment with anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. This is particularly alarming given that Trump’s administration has repeatedly embraced misinformation and conspiracy over factual science, contributing to a public health crisis that has cost lives.

Weldon’s nomination signals yet another instance of Trump’s administration prioritizing loyalty and ideological alignment over scientific expertise. This troubling trend of appointing individuals with questionable views on public health continues to threaten the integrity of institutions meant to safeguard American health.

As the Trump administration pushes forward with this nomination, it highlights a broader pattern of undermining crucial health guidelines and promoting dangerous misinformation. Appointing a known vaccine skeptic to lead the CDC could further erode public trust in vaccination and public health measures, putting countless lives at risk.

(h/t: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/29/health/dave-weldon-cdc.html)

Trump Appoints Snake Oil Salesman Dr. Oz To Run Medicare and Medicaid

Donald Trump has made a shocking decision by appointing Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a role for which he is grossly unqualified. Despite being a well-known television personality, Oz has no real experience managing a large government bureaucracy that oversees critical health services. This appointment exposes Trump’s reckless disregard for the qualifications necessary to run such an important agency and instead continues to prove he is placing Trump loyalists to be his eyes, ears, and hammer in a fascist movement.

Dr. Oz has long been criticized for promoting dubious health treatments and unproven remedies, making him a controversial figure in the medical community. His history of endorsing questionable products and ideas, often labeled as ‘snake oil’, raises significant concerns about his ability to make sound decisions for the health and welfare of millions of Americans. This is the same individual who infamously referred to the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic as an “appetizing opportunity” that would only result in a 2-3% increase in mortality—an alarming statement that highlights his lack of genuine concern for public health.

In his statement, Trump touted Oz’s ability to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ and promised to cut waste and fraud. However, his track record suggests that Oz’s leadership might lead to further erosion of trust in medical science rather than reinforcing it. The idea that someone with such a dubious reputation in the health sector could be trusted to lead a vital healthcare agency is not just unthinkable—it is a direct threat to the integrity of America’s healthcare system.

Critics argue that this appointment reflects Trump’s pattern of placing loyalty over competency, showcasing a troubling trend where personal connections supersede the need for qualified leadership. With Oz’s questionable medical practices and lack of substantial administrative experience, there is a genuine fear that patient care and critical health services could suffer under his oversight.

As Oz prepares to potentially take the helm at CMS, there are serious implications for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Trump’s choice of Oz signals a further departure from evidence-based medicine and an embrace of celebrity over accountability. The American public deserves leaders who prioritize science and ethics over popularity and personal relationships.

(h/t: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/19/trump-dr-oz-cms-cabinet)

Trump’s Lies About Schools and Transgender Surgeries Exposed

Former President Donald Trump has once again spread the harmful falsehood that schools in the U.S. are sending children for gender-affirming surgeries without parental consent. This baseless claim, first made during a rally in late August, has been thoroughly debunked by multiple reputable sources, including CNN, which revealed that Trump’s own campaign could not provide a single instance to support this outrageous assertion.

Despite being discredited, Trump has doubled down on his narrative, repeating it during discussions filmed by Fox News and on a podcast with Joe Rogan. He insists that there are places where children leave for school and return having undergone surgical changes, a claim that is not only misleading but also entirely fabricated. He fails to specify any such locations, exposing the lack of evidence behind his outlandish claims.

Experts in transgender healthcare have unequivocally stated that Trump’s assertions are false. There are no instances of schools facilitating gender-affirming surgeries, and any medical intervention for minors must involve parental consent. Leading medical professionals emphasize that surgeries, whether gender-affirming or otherwise, cannot be performed in school settings and require a qualified medical center.

Moreover, the process for minors seeking gender-affirming care is comprehensive and involves careful evaluation by medical professionals. Parental consent is not just a formality; it is a legal requirement that ensures informed decision-making regarding a child’s health. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other authoritative bodies have made it clear that no healthcare provider would perform surgery on a minor without the involvement and consent of parents.

Trump’s continued propagation of this false narrative reflects a dangerous trend of misinformation that undermines trust in educational and healthcare institutions. The overwhelming consensus among experts is that these surgeries are not performed in schools, and the claims made by Trump serve only to stoke fear and division as he aims to mobilize his base ahead of the upcoming elections.

(h/t: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/26/politics/fact-check-trump-rogan-children-gender-affirming-surgeries/index.html)

Trump Promotes ‘Sound of Freedom,’ a Conservative Hit About Child Trafficking – The New York Times

Skip to contentSkip to site index Politics Today’s Paper Politics|Trump Promotes ‘Sound of Freedom,’ a Conservative Hit About Child Predators https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/us/politics/trump-sound-of-freedom.html Share full article AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT Supported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENT Trump Promotes ‘Sound of Freedom,’ a Conservative Hit About Child Predators Hosting a screening at his private club, the former president is the most prominent Republican to embrace a film lauded by both mainstream conservatives and far-right QAnon believers. Share full article Based on real-life events, “The Sound of Freedom” stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a former federal agent who sought to rescue South American children from sex traffickers.Credit…Angel Studios By Anjali Huynh July 19, 2023 Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina called it an “amazing, gut-wrenching, emotional movie.” “Wow. Wow. Wow,” Senator Ted Cruz of Texas wrote of the film, urging supporters to see it. And on Wednesday, former President Donald J. Trump hosted an event featuring a screening of the movie, “Sound of Freedom,” at his private club in New Jersey, the most striking sign yet of how the unlikely box-office hit has captured the imagination of American conservatives. The movie, released July 4, was the second most-watched film in North America last weekend, behind “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning,” and has made $90.7 million as of Monday, according to data from Comscore. Based on real-life events, the movie stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a former federal agent who sought to rescue South American children from sex traffickers. Its themes have resonated with a wide range of conservatives, including mainstream Republicans who have focused heavily on education and other children’s issues, evangelicals who have responded to the movie’s religious overtones, and far-right QAnon believers who have for years spread alarmist fears of child endangerment. The plot never directly invokes QAnon, the wide-ranging, pro-Trump conspiracy theory that falsely accuses leading Democrats of orchestrating a pedophilia ring, but the movement’s supporters have embraced the film. And Mr. Caviezel himself has promoted baseless QAnon theories. Appearing on Stephen Bannon’s podcast before the movie’s release, he commented that “there is a big storm coming,” a QAnon slogan. In 2021, he spoke at a QAnon convention. Image Mr. Caviezel in the film, which has been embraced by supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory movement.Credit…Angel Studios The movie’s endorsement from presidential candidates echoes grass-roots energy around what Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist, called the “mainstreaming of the center of the QAnon movement, which is that this is about protecting children.” In focus groups, Ms. Longwell said, Republican voters have brought up QAnon less explicitly than in the past and more frequently express concerns about schools “indoctrinating children” and transgender athletes competing in sports. A spokesman for Angel Studios, the company that produced the film, did not respond to a request for comment. Efforts to reach Mr. Caviezel were unsuccessful, but on Wednesday, he responded to critical coverage of the movie. Appearing on a conservative podcast, he repeated a quotation from the movie that refers to a Bible verse: “Better a millstone be hung around their necks that they be cast into the sea that they should ever hurt one of these little ones,” he said. Both Mr. Caviezel and Mr. Ballard attended the screening on Wednesday at Mr. Trump’s club. Experts on misinformation expressed misgivings about the movie’s message. “I do think that human trafficking is real and child trafficking is real and these are real problems,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, who has studied the role of conspiracy theories in American politics. “It’s just that this renewed, highly politicized focus on it is emblematic of increasing political polarization in our society.” The man at the center of “Sound of Freedom,” Mr. Ballard, is a former Department of Homeland Security agent who founded an anti-trafficking group and was appointed by Mr. Trump to a federal advisory panel on human trafficking. He has been accused of exaggerating his exploits. The movie depicts Mr. Ballard setting out to rescue two siblings who were sold by sex traffickers; he ultimately saves dozens of children. Daniela Peterka-Benton, the academic director for the Global Center of Human Trafficking at Montclair State University, said the movie’s focus on saviors rather than victims resulted in an incomplete, glamorized depiction of human trafficking. Most children, she said, are not “snatched away” but are trafficked by people they know. “It does a disservice to the victims; it does a disservice to people really fighting to end human trafficking and to provide services to survivors,” she said. “There’s so much more to it than just the rescue.” Nevertheless, politicians, commentators and Hollywood celebrities have praised the film. Ivanka Trump, Mr. Trump’s daughter, who has largely stayed out of politics since the 2020 election, promoted the film in June, writing on Twitter that it “sheds light on the harrowing reality” of human trafficking. Republicans — many of whom were far less worried about the Trump administration’s separation of migrant children from their parents — have also seized on the issue. Last week, Senate Republicans’ official Twitter account shared a video that pointed to New York Times reporting about migrant children forced to work dangerous jobs across the United States. The post misleadingly accused President Biden of having “created the largest child trafficking ring in U.S. history.” In liberal Manhattan, “Sound of Freedom” viewers at several theaters said they had come not for the politics, but because they wanted to see a good thriller. “I came because I believe that there’s child trafficking going on and there’s just not enough light being shed on it,” said Malaika Villamizar, 19. She was surprised to hear, however, that the movie had been promoted by Mr. Trump and other Republican politicians. She said she had heard about the film on TikTok. Anjali Huynh covers politics for The Times. More about Anjali Huynh A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 22 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Screens ‘Sound of Freedom,’ A Film Popular With Conservatives. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe Share full article AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT Site Index Site Information Navigation © 2023 The New York Times Company NYTCo Contact Us Accessibility Work with us Advertise T Brand Studio Your Ad Choices Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Sale Site Map Canada International Help Subscriptions Manage Privacy Preferences

The Republican Party continues its march into extremism as the front runner for the presidency, @[100044274887410:2048:Donald J. Trump], hosts a private screening of “Sound of Freedom”, a QAnon film being marketed directly to conservatives.

QAnon, an insane conspiracy theory that a random dude on 4chan troll board has a secret clearance nobody has heard of and has been posting for years that any day now a secret cabal of Democrats, Hollywood elites, and Jews will be exposed as belonging to a global child sex trafficking ring to harvest their blood to stay young with Donald Trump as the only person who can stop them, has been incorporated directly into the Trump campaign since 2019 and has been central to Republican political ideology for years.

The film has been a massive success among the target audience of the easily manipulated Trump supporters and has grossed about as much as the new Indiana Jones movie.

[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/us/politics/trump-sound-of-freedom.html]

Trump Pushes Fake COVID Cure From Fringe Doctors, Banned by Facebook

President Donald Trump exhibited his new serious tone toward the coronavirus crisis on Monday night, sharing a viral video of fringe doctors touting the controversial anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as “a cure for COVID.”

The video, which also featured the doctors dismissing mask-wearing, was eventually taken down by Facebook for “sharing false information” about the virus, after racking up millions of views in a matter of hours. Several right-wing outlets and personalities, however, continued to promote the clip of the doctors’ press conference on Twitter, eventually reaching the president’s timeline.

Besides retweeting the clip several times, Trump—who recently said his retweets tend to get him “in trouble”—went on to share several other posts promoting hydroxychloroquine, which the FDA has rescinded for emergency use for the virus.

Numerous studies and clinical trials have found that the drug has shown no real benefit in treating coronavirus patients. Experts also have warned of potentially deadly side effects. 

Trump then shared a tweet directly from Dr. Stella Immanuel, one of the physicians who took part in the press conference. Immanuel is also a preacher who once wrote a book claiming that there is a Satanic plot to take over the world and recently challenged CNN anchors and top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci to provide her with urine samples. (The video tweeted by Immanuel, along with several others the president shared, were later taken down.)

She also didn’t take kindly to Facebook removing the video of her saying masks don’t work and that hydroxychloroquine is a magic cure for the virus.

“Hello Facebook put back my profile page and videos up or your computers with start crashing till you do,” she tweeted late Monday night. “You are not bigger that God. I promise you. If my page is not back up face book will be down in Jesus name.”

The president also shared tweets attacking Fauci on Monday night, despite insisting recently that he had a “very good relationship” with the doctor after White House officials publicly blasted him.

At least one of the accounts the president retweeted on Monday night was from a follower of QAnon, the conspiracy theory that alleges a “deep state” cabal of pedophiles is plotting against Trump.

[The Daily Beast]

Trump Promotes Video Undermining Fauci Which Facebook, YouTube and Twitter Remove for ‘False Information’

President Donald Trump appears to have complicated feelings for Dr. Anthony Fauci While the commander in chief has publicly said that he has a good relationship with the nation’s top immunologist, his Twitter feed tells a different story.

In a flurry of curious Tweets and retweets late Monday night, Trump’s retweeted a podcast promotion that featured Fauci-critic Dr. Lee Vliet which is sure to cause drama at the next White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting (at least one that both Trump and Fauci will attend.)

The tweet originated from a Twitter account called WarRoomPandemic, and claimed: “Dr. Fauci has misled the American people on many issues, but particular, on dismissing #hydroxychloroquine and calling Remdesivir the new gold standard.” A screengrab of that tweet was shared by CNN’s Manu Raju below:

The tweet led to a Breitbart-hosted video that some might call scientifically questionable observations that promoted the still-unproven hydroxychloroquine and questioned the benefits of mask-wearing.  The video was also shared by Donald Trump Jr., was eventually removed by Facebook for pushing “false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19.” YouTube and Twitter also pulled the video.

But it was another undermining tweet of Dr.Fauci that will restart a media conversation about their relationship.

This is not the first time that Trump has promoted criticism of Dr. Fauci.  The deteriorating state of the relationship between Trump and Fauci drew new intrigue in early April after Trump went on a Twitter binge and retweeted a post bearing the hashtag #FireFauci. This happened after Fauci gave an interview to CNN and said “obviously” more lives would have been saved if the federal government adopted coronavirus counterstrategies earlier.

Fauci’s approval rating for his role in fighting the coronavirus has been significantly higher than that of Trump’s. In a national poll of 1,337 registered voters conducted by The New York Times and Siena College in mid-June, 76% of respondents said they trusted Fauci for “accurate information” about the COVID-19 pandemic compared with just 26% who said they trusted Trump. This has led to multiple reports of the president feeling some animus towards Dr. Fauci, which may be the reason for Monday’s night’s undermining tweet.

[Mediaite]

Trump administration orders hospitals to send coronavirus data directly to the White House, not the CDC

The Trump administration ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all COVID-19 patient information to a central database in Washington, starting Wednesday, according to a Health and Human Services document updated July 10.

The handoff had an immediate effect. Wednesday afternoon one of the important CDC pages that tracked changes over time in how many hospital beds in the nation are occupied by COVID-19 patients ceased working. The CDC confirmed the page’s disappearance was a consequence of the switch.

It was first noted by Charles Ornstein from the news non-profit ProPublica.

The data came from the National Healthcare Safety Network, the most widely used hospital infection tracking system in the United States. It is run by the CDC.

In a call with reporters Wednesday, CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield said the agency has agreed to remove the NHSN from the collection process in order to streamline reporting.

The disappearance of the site takes away a useful metric of the pandemic for health care workers.

Changes in time of the number of hospital beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients tells public health officials how close to being unable to accept new patients a hospital or a region is, or if things are getting better.

Michael Caputo, HHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement earlier Wednesday the new coronavirus data collection system would be “faster,” and the CDC has a one-week lag in reporting hospital data.

“The President’s Coronavirus Task Force has urged improvements for months, but they cannot keep up with this pandemic,” he said. “Today, the CDC still provides data from only 85 percent of hospitals; the President’s COVID response requires 100 percent to report.”

The disappearance of the site takes away a useful metric of the pandemic for health care workers.

Changes in time of the number of hospital beds being occupied by COVID-19 patients tells public health officials how close to being unable to accept new patients a hospital or a region is, or if things are getting better.

Michael Caputo, HHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement earlier Wednesday the new coronavirus data collection system would be “faster,” and the CDC has a one-week lag in reporting hospital data.

“The President’s Coronavirus Task Force has urged improvements for months, but they cannot keep up with this pandemic,” he said. “Today, the CDC still provides data from only 85 percent of hospitals; the President’s COVID response requires 100 percent to report.”

Caputo added: “The CDC, an operating division of HHS, will certainly participate in this streamlined all-of-government response. They will simply no longer control it.”

Wednesday afternoon, Redfield described the data collection system as a way to streamline the process and make it easier for the nation’s hospitals to get information to state and federal authorities.

“We at CDC know that the life blood of public health is data,” he said. “Collecting, disseminating data as rapidly as possible is our priority and the reason for the policy change we’re discussing today.”

The CDC, along with many federal agencies, has long struggled to provide state-of-the-art data systems with lagging funding and sought to upgrade its systems. 

Redfield indicated the change would not be detrimental, saying the new system would streamline the process, reduce duplication and the reporting burden on medical providers and “enable us to distribute the scarce resources, using the best possible approach,” he said. 

“We’ve merely streamlined data collection for hospitals on the front lines,” he stressed. “No one is taking access or data away from CDC.”

Public health experts and infectious disease scientists sounded an alarm on the protocols, noting that further politicization of the pandemic will hurt health workers and patients.

“Placing medical data collection outside of the leadership of public health experts could severely weaken the quality and availability of data, add an additional burden to already overwhelmed hospitals and add a new challenge to the U.S. pandemic response,” Dr. Thomas File, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in a statement.

He said collecting and reporting public health data is a “core function of the CDC,” and bypassing the agency would “undermine our nation’s public health experts.”

“As infectious diseases physicians, front-line providers and scientists, we urge the administration to follow public health expertise in addressing this public health crisis,” File said.

[USA Today]

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