Who Was Editing CDC Guidance? Ivanka Trump and Kellyanne Conway. Not Scientists.

[riversedge]

Who Was Editing CDC Guidance? Ivanka Trump and Kellyanne Conway. Not Scientists.

https://couriernewsroom.com/2020/12/16/who-was-editing-cdc-guidance-ivanka-trump-and-kellyanne-conway-not-scientists/

Written By Elle Meyers Elle Meyers

Originally Published December 16, 2020 2:37 pm EST

Ivanka Trump (L), daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump and assistant to the president, and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former Trump administration officials say that whenever the science clashed with political messaging, the messaging won.

Two former Trump administration officials from the CDC say the White House dismissed scientific facts, meddled in public messaging, and stifled the agency’s voice during the coronavirus pandemic.

In multiple interviews with The New York Times, Kyle McGowan, a former chief of staff within the CDC, and his deputy, Amanda Campbell, explained how political and economic considerations from the White House often took precedence over science. And they are worried those tactics from the Trump administration will have a lasting impact on the CDC.

McGowan explained that over time, White House officials and people part of Trump’s inner circle strengthened their grasp over the CDC. For example, the CDC’s weekly disease outbreak reports were always considered free from any political interference. But just last week, the editor in chief of the reports reported that she was ordered to destroy an email that contained information about Trump appointees working to alter change the publication.

In other instances, the White House requested to review the content of the CDC’s COVID-19 guidance documents. Agency employees felt as though the guidelines were available to “an endless loop of political appointees across Washington,” according to The New York Times. ...............................

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