Uncovering the facts,
Holding government accountable.
From the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic last year, a stumbling federal response exacerbated a once-in-a-lifetime public health crisis: The Trump administration resisted creating a unified strategy to provide states with medical equipment or to boost testing capacity, interfered with the key decisions at the nation’s top scientific agencies, and gave special treatment to private companies. In the last year, news outlets, watchdog groups, and federal oversight agencies have investigated these missteps.
Government watchdogs have tracked the federal pandemic response, releasing key reports that shine light on multiple failings.
Former President Donald Trump’s combative relationships with multiple state leaders led to significant breakdowns in state and federal coordination, compounding the problems created by a hands-off approach that left many states competing with one another for help.
In the fall, concerns deepened about the politicization of science agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA.
American Oversight, journalists, and watchdog groups also investigated corporate influence on the White House’s and federal government’s pandemic response.
Though Trump is no longer in office, the devastating effects of his administration’s multiple failures in addressing the pandemic will be felt for years. To learn more about the Trump administration’s pandemic response, visit our Oversight Tracker and read more about our investigations.
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