NE Washington News

In Washington, D.C., House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans have released a report criticizing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of a $900 million COVID-19 public relations campaign. The investigation, initiated in April 2023, focused on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) management of the campaign.

Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers expressed concerns about how taxpayer money was spent. "While the Biden-Harris administration’s public health guidance led to prolonged closures of schools and businesses, the NIH was spending nearly a billion dollars of taxpayer money trying to manipulate Americans with advertisements—sometimes containing erroneous or unproven information," she stated. She further noted that this approach resulted in a loss of trust in the public health system.

Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie echoed these sentiments, highlighting political motivations behind the campaign's funding use. "I am proud to see this report uncover the truth behind the Biden-Harris administration’s use of $900 million of taxpayer funds to further their own political agenda that sowed distrust in our public health institutions," he said.

The report criticized specific elements of pandemic messaging, including claims made during the 'Stop the Spread' campaign about vaccination effects on transmission. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith commented on these issues: "Despite lacking scientific basis, the administration bought into this CDC claim and misled the American public."

The report outlines several recommendations aimed at preventing similar issues in future pandemics. These include formalizing CDC authorization by Congress, ensuring adherence to FDA guidelines by HHS agencies, and fostering transparency within public health communications.

For more detailed insights and recommendations from this investigation, readers are encouraged to access the full report through official channels.