My friends, there is some trouble in Washington, and it all goes back to the emerging mess at the CDC.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the agency's director had resigned, then been fired, and handful of other officials had also left their positions.
This all happened after the FDA changed its guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine, and now senators on both sides of the aisle are pushing back.
Earlier this week, the new guidelines were published by the FDA for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The new guidelines restrict the vaccine to only those who are considered high risk, such as the elderly.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, “These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors."
He continued, “The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense. This framework delivers all three.”
The week got started with an announcement that CDC Director Susan Monarez was being removed from her role. When she refused to leave, she was terminated.
Monarez has reportedly retained the services of former Hunter Biden attorney Abbe Lowell to defend her job, but no suit has been filed yet.
There were also at least four other top officials who left his week, declaring that the agency has been politicized and asserting that people’s health could be at risk as a result.
Needless to say, this got the attention of Congress, and now both Democrats and Republicans are pushing back on the firing and the new guidelines.
Senate Healthcare, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) was among the GOP senators who were upset at the agency shakeup.
He stated, "These decisions directly impact children’s health, and the meeting should not occur until significant oversight has been conducted. If the meeting proceeds, any recommendations made should be rejected as lacking legitimacy given the seriousness of the allegations and the current turmoil in CDC leadership."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) added, "We need leaders at the CDC and HHS who are committed to improving public health and have the courage to stand up for science, not officials who have a history of spreading bogus conspiracy theories and disinformation.”
This is a headline that Trump does not need right now, but it is being brought on by yet again selecting a top official who is not on the same page as the administration. I said Monarez could be a problem for Kennedy when she was first nominated, but I doubt anyone expected things to regress to this point just a month into her tenure.
