CDC chief says he isn’t being muzzled
Redfield, in an interview with POLITICO, also wouldn’t commit to holding regular briefings on the coronavirus as more states begin to reopen.
CDC Director Robert Redfield on Thursday denied reports that the White House rejected his agency’s draft guidelines for reopening the country and wouldn’t commit to resuming regular briefings as states continue lifting coronavirus lockdowns.
Redfield, in an interview with POLITICO, said reports of the White House stifling his agency are inaccurate and that the coronavirus task force gave constructive criticism on the draft guidelines that were revised and quietly released this week.
The 68-year-old virologist has recently raised his media profile, giving interviews about the coming flu season. But in contrast to past public health crises surrounding AIDS, Zika and Ebola, the CDC has largely been sidelined as a messenger. It stopped holding regular press briefings on the coronavirus in March, as the White House took over many public-facing aspects of the response.
The CDC’s shrinking public presence amid the pandemic has raised questions and concerns in the public health community about whether the adminstration is muzzling federal experts — especially as Americans are being urged to resume some normal activities, despite climbing cases and deaths.
The White House has also stopped holding its daily task force briefings, which regularly included updates from experts like Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease doctor, or Deborah Birx, the task force coordinator and longtime global health expert.
“State officials and the American public benefit from regular updates of evidence-based information from trusted and experienced public health professionals so they can make informed decisions that help them protect themselves and others,” former CDC Director Tom Frieden said earlier, speaking about the role of federal health officials during emergencies. “This is particularly important as we work toward restarting the economy as soon and safely as possible.”’
Tensions have been building between the CDC and the White House. Over the weekend, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro blamed the agency for “letting the country down” on testing, referring to the CDC’s bungling of initial coronavirus diagnostics which delayed the ability to detect widespread transmission in the early months of the outbreak.
Trump on Thursday defended the CDC, telling reporters he thinks “they’re doing a good job, a really good job in a complex situation.”
The president, when asked, said he is not considering replacing Redfield.
The CDC’s guidance on reopening was also reportedly delayed for weeks over concerns that it was “too prescriptive” and failed to align with the White House’s goal of giving states the final say.
“It really wasn’t delayed,” Redfield told POLITICO, arguing revisions requested by the task force were part of the process since “a lot of our guidance has implications beyond the CDC.”
“Several individuals on the task force said it was hard for the average person to understand,” said Redfield of one of the revision requests. The White House previously told POLITICO the CDC’s guidance, which provided specific examples of how restaurants, bars, schools and churches could safely reopen, amounted to “counter messaging” against the president’s own plan.
The agency this week quietly published more detailed guidelines for reopening schools and businesses that were shut down in the pandemic.
Redfield on Thursday downplayed any tensions between his agency and the White House and said the CDC has had “extensive communication” with the public throughout the coronavirus response.
He said the agency was actively engaged in messaging around the coronavirus but declined to commit to reinstating CDC briefings that were held near daily in the first two months of the outbreak. Those were replaced by the regular White House task force briefings, which were discontinued this month.
Redfield did not say whether the CDC would reinstate regular press briefings on the coronavirus. A CDC spokesperson said the agency provides updates and information to the public through its website and social media accounts.
The CDC chief also said the agency is focused on preparing for the fall and upcoming influenza season and how it will impact the coronavirus response.
President Donald Trump has previously downplayed those risks and last month publicly ordered Redfield to clarify his remarks warning about the possibility of a challenging flu season.
Redfield declined to comment on whether he has pushed the president to prioritize preparing for flu season, but said several members of the task force acknowledge it will be an important issue to address.
Caitlin Oprysko contributed to this report.