Holding Federal Public Health Agencies Accountable: Lessons from Covid

Hosted by The Heritage Foundation

This past year, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, chaired by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), has conducted several outstanding oversight investigations into the performance of federal agencies that failed to respond effectively to the national medical emergency. These investigations revealed that federal officials failed to provide compelling information on the origin of the pandemic. They confused the public with mixed messages on the rationale and effectiveness of masking and provided weak scientific justifications for comprehensive vaccine mandates and extended school closures.

Three federal agencies that have major responsibilities in responding to a national health emergency are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Congress needs to reassess these agencies, clarify their roles and missions, and retarget funding, enabling them to cope more effectively in a future medical emergency.

HHS former General Counsel Robert Charrow, Heritage’s Edmund Haislmaier, and Paragon Health Institute’s Dr. Joel Zinberg will address these and related issues. Don’t miss it!