Senate Minority Leader Schumer Calls for Sec. Azar to Resign
Sen. Murray, Reps. DeLauro, Schiff Call for Caputo to Resign
Experts Losing Faith in HHS, CDC Independence
After months of President Trump’s concerted efforts to politicize independent agencies — from pushing the FDA to issue emergency use authorizations for unproven drugs to forcing the CDC to change testing guidelines — it comes as no surprise that the Trump political appointees have taken to dangerously manipulating the CDC’s once apolitical reports for the President’s gain.
Amid reports of the actions taken by HHS spokesman Michael Caputo and his aide Paul Alexander, calls are growing for accountability over a department that has spent the pandemic gambling American lives to salvage President Trump’s reelection bid.
Democrats in Congress Crank Up Heat on Azar Amid Mounting Political Interference in Independent Agencies
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Called For Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar To Resign, Accusing Him Of Failing To Stop The Politicization Of The Agency And Suppressing The True Damage Of The Pandemic.
- “Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for the resignation of Trump administration health secretary Alex Azar, amid mounting evidence of political interference in the federal government’s coronavirus response. The top Democrat blasted Azar in a floor speech on Tuesday morning, accusing him of failing to protect the department in the face of wide-ranging political pressure to suppress the true extent of the pandemic’s damage. ‘Today, I’m calling on Secretary Azar to resign immediately,’ Schumer said. ‘We need a secretary of Health and Human Services who will look out for the American people, not President Trump’s political interests.’” [Politico, 9/15/20]
Reps. Diana Degette (D-CO) And Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. Are Demanding A Briefing From Secretary Azar, Writing: “It Is Long Past Time You Stand Up For Public Health.”
- “Congress and the American people deserve to know if you approved these egregious actions by these political appointees, and if it was done without your knowledge, what actions you will take to ensure that it never happens again. It is long past time that you stand up for public health… The American people have suffered the consequences of the destructive political attacks on HHS’s public health agencies and experts. We have called on you to uphold your solemn oath of office to protect the nation’s health or step aside. Time and time again, you have failed to defend your own public health institutions and officials, and have allowed the Administration to promote politics over science during our nation’s pandemic response. Now, we demand a briefing from you by September 18, 2020, as to how you intend to fulfill your oath.” [Committee on Energy and Commerce, 9/14/20]
Increasing Demands for Caputo’s Resignation as House Democrats Open Investigation Into Politicization of CDC Reports
Senator Patty Murray Called For Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar To Ask For Caputo’s Resignation.
- “If @SecAzar believes his responsibility is to the American public and not to President Trump, he should demand Michael A. Caputo’s resignation today. Secretary Azar has a basic responsibility to ensure our public health experts are able to do their jobs, our COVID-19 response is not undermined by misinformation or conspiracy theories, and the data used to inform our efforts is free of political interference. It’s clear Sec. Azar can’t meet his basic responsibilities while allowing Caputo, a yes-man for President Trump with no scientific expertise who publicly attacked CDC scientists & privately interfered with key CDC reports, to continue serving in such an influential role.” [Twitter, @PattyMurray, 9/14/20]
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro Called For Caputo Resign Immediately.
- “Mr. Caputo is not fit to spend one dime of taxpayers’ dollars, and I am still awaiting answers from Secretary Azar about how Mr. Caputo may have further misused taxpayer funding. This country needs real leadership and governance by truth, not a propaganda campaign led by a conspiracy theorist. Michael Caputo must resign immediately. If he does not, Secretary Azar must fire him.” [Press Release, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, 9/14/20]
Congressman Adam Schiff Called For Caputo To Resign.
- “During a pandemic, honest and credible communication to the public is critical. But the new HHS spokesperson is stifling scientists, spreading insane conspiracies, and ranting online. We need science, not politics. And we need it now. Michael Caputo should resign.” [Twitter, @AdamSchiff, 9/15/20]
Congressman Frank Pallone: “Mr. Caputo Clearly Needs To Be Relieved Of His Duties.”
- “Mr. Caputo clearly needs to be relieved of his duties. His sole job is to distort the truth on the taxpayer’s dime. It also calls into question the leadership at HHS and that’s why I’m demanding a briefing from Secretary Azar.” [Twitter, @FrankPallone, 9/15/20]
The Buffalo News, Caputo’s Hometown Newspaper, Called For Him To Resign From His Position At The Department Of Health And Human Services.
- “We generally approve of Western New York having an influential voice in Washington, but Michael Caputo’s is no longer needed. It’s hard to decide which is more outrageous – that Caputo and a top aide run Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports through a political vetting process, or that Caputo sees nothing wrong with that.” [The Buffalo News, 9/15/20]
House Democrats Are Opening An Investigation To Determine The Scope Of Caputo’s Interference With CDC Reports.
- “House Democrats have launched an investigation into allegations that political appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services have sought to review and alter weekly scientific reports issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the coronavirus pandemic. Democratic members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis are seeking voluntary testimony from seven officials at the Department of Health and Human Services, including Michael Caputo, the agency’s spokesman, and Paul Alexander, his senior adviser.” [CBS, 9/14/20]
Even Republicans Recognize Dangers of Caputo’s Conduct
Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD): “People Need To Be Able To Listen To Those Experts.”
- “Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) did say that if the reports ‘are accurate, I would be very concerned. The American people need to be able to listen to those experts.’” [Politico, “Huddle,” 9/15/20]
Senator Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV): “I Think [The CDC] Needs To Stay Out Of The Political Realm.”
- “Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said ‘we rely on [the CDC] for a lot of statistics, so I think it needs to stay out of the political realm.’” [Politico, “Huddle,” 9/15/20]
Experts Are Disturbed by Caputo’s Dangerous Manipulation of the Facts
Marc Lipsitch, Harvard Epidemiologist: “This Is Outrageous And Dangerous.”
- “This is outrageous and dangerous to justified public trust in @CDCgov but at this stage unsurprising.” [Twitter, @mlipsitch, 9/12/20]
Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden: “Politicizing Science Undermines” Trust.
- “The only way we’re going to control this virus is through science. Public trust is crucial—and politicizing science undermines that trust.” [Twitter, @DrTomFrieden, 9/15/20]
Dr. Carlos Del Rio, Emory Infectious Disease Specialist: “I Will Start Reading [CDC Reports] With A Degree Of Skepticism.
- “On Saturday, members of the public health community aired frustration over the report, which has not been confirmed by CNBC. Dr. Carlos Del Rio, an infectious disease specialist at Emory University, called the reports ‘incredibly concerning.’ ‘It’s very upsetting also for those of us in public health and medicine. The MMWR is a landmark CDC publication,’ he said in an interview with CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield. ‘I think that MMWR are still trying to get the information out there, but certainly now, I will start reading with a degree of skepticism.’” [CNBC, 9/12/20]