Records Show Frustration at FDA as Agency Prepared to Authorize Convalescent Plasma Treatment

On Aug. 23, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to convalescent plasma as a Covid-19 treatment, just one day after then-President Donald Trump claimed that the “deep state” at the FDA was willfully delaying the approval of coronavirus therapeutics. Trump had frequently extolled the treatment’s efficacy, and when announcing the new authorization, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn followed Trump’s lead, incorrectly stating that convalescent plasma would save 35 percent of Covid-19 patients who got the treatment. Hahn later apologized for the over-representation.

American Oversight recently obtained communications of FDA officials and political appointees from the days before convalescent plasma was authorized for Covid-19 patients. The emails, also reported on by Politico, offer an inside look into the federal government’s internal disagreements surrounding the authorization. 

The records illustrate the White House’s keen interest in the decision to authorize convalescent plasma. On Aug. 17, 2020, FDA Chief of Staff Keagan Lenihan told Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar: “To clarify, we had multiple conversations with NIH, Dr. [Deborah] Birx, and Paul [Mango, HHS deputy chief of staff] about moving forward with an EUA. It is my understanding the Commissioner spoke with both the VPs office and [White House Chief of Staff] Meadows office to read them in on the plan.”

FDA officials’ frustration with other science agencies over the delay in authorization is also apparent in the communications. On Aug. 18, FDA Media Relations Director Stephanie Caccomo sent top officials, including Hahn, Lenihan, and Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biological Evaluation and Research, a message from New York Times reporter Noah Weiland. Weiland wrote that the Times was planning to run a story about how National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins and Dr. Anthony Fauci had cautioned against authorizing plasma treatment, due to concerns that the current data from the Mayo Clinic was too weak. 

In an email also reported on by Politico, Marks replied to Caccomo, indicating his displeasure: “There is a much more disturbing aspect to me about this, aside from the fact that it is FDA and not NIH that determines whether or not something meets the standard for EUA: this was yet another leak of information from a meeting that should have been a confidential one, and could undermine the type of open dialogue that would optimally take place.” He also sent an email just to Hahn and Lenihan, saying that “knowing that this likely would happen is why we could certainly not proceed with a regulatory action last week after Dr. Collins remark.” (It is not clear what remark Marks is referring to.)

In the Times article, which was published the next day, NIH official H. Clifford Lane said that the authorization was on hold, a statement that appears to have angered officials at the FDA. Following publication, Caccomo sent an email pointing out that Lane was the on-the-record source. Marks responded, “I would like to at least touch upon this at our meeting today.” Hahn agreed.

But FDA officials seemed determined to push on with the EUA. In partnership with the Mayo Clinic, the FDA had started an Expanded Access Program (EAP) in April to allow patients with Covid-19 to access convalescent plasma outside of clinical trials. On Aug. 19, Marks wrote: “FDA continues to get data regarding the EAP, since it is an ongoing program, and since there are many analyses ongoing. … We do not intend to change the outcome of anything based on these data. There will be confirmatory data from the Mayo, which we will have shortly that should also not change anything in the wording of the EUA.”

On Aug. 22, the day before the authorization, Marks emailed to say that “the dataset that came in from the Mayo is smaller than we would have liked,” but affirmed that the decision to authorize remained unchanged. 

In January 2021, a study conducted by researchers at Oxford University found that “there has been no convincing evidence of the effect of convalescent plasma on clinical outcomes in patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19.” On February 4, the FDA narrowed the EUA to recommend the use of convalescent plasma only in specific circumstances.  

According to the records, Hahn also became frustrated with Emily Miller, the agency’s chief spokesperson and a former reporter for the right-wing One America News Network. Miller’s appointment that month by the White House to a role not traditionally filled by a political appointee had drawn significant criticism. 

On Aug. 21, Hahn sent Miller an email with the subject line, “Response on NYT/Plasma EUA Statement,” and asked, “Have you reviewed.”

Associate Commissioner John Wagner replied, “I don’t think she’s up on comms yet – picking up today.”

“What does that mean?” Hahn replied. “[S]he needs to be in charge of OMA [Office of Media Affairs] starting today. That is her job and we need her to move things forward.” Miller was fired a week later.

To learn more about the Trump administration’s promotion of certain treatments during the pandemic, visit our Covid-19 Oversight Hub.

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September 29, 2020

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Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, DOD - Defense Intelligence Agency, DOJ - Civil Division, DOJ - Criminal Division, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ Office of the Inspector General, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Kentucky State Board of Elections, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, U.S. Agency for Global Media
September 24, 2020

Redfield, Fauci, Hahn Testify at Senate Hearing

HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
September 23, 2020

New GAO Report Finds Supply and Testing Shortages Are Weakening Federal Pandemic Response

Department of Health and Human Services, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 23, 2020

Investigations Update: New Kentucky Voter Fraud Task Force Lawsuit, and Our Supreme Court Short List Investigation

Commerce - International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, Florida, Florida Office of the Governor, Florida Supreme Court, Georgia, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - DeKalb County, Georgia - Fulton County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia - State Records Center, Georgia Attorney General, Georgia Office of the Governor, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, United States Postal Service
September 21, 2020

Covid-19 Oversight News: CDC Flip-Flops, Azar’s ‘Power Grab,’ and Vaccine Trial Plans

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration
September 17, 2020

News Roundup: Behind the Scenes at the Postal Service

Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Postal Service
September 17, 2020

Redfield’s Mask and Vaccine Comments Become New Target of Trump’s Rejection of Science

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 16, 2020

Emails Reveal Meat Industry Influence Over Government’s Pandemic Response

Department of Agriculture, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 15, 2020

Investigations Update: DeJoy’s Calendars, Barr’s False Voting Fraud Story, and Delays in Prescription Deliveries

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Veterans Affairs, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, United States Postal Service, VA - Veterans Health Administration
September 15, 2020

Watchdog Groups Request Information from HHS, DOD on Covid-19 Vaccine Contracts

Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services
September 10, 2020

News Roundup: What Trump Knew, and What We Know

Congress, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, State Office of the Inspector General, United States Postal Service, VA - Veterans Health Administration, White House
September 9, 2020

At Senate Hearing, Surgeon General Denies Politicization in Vaccine Process

Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration
September 9, 2020

Investigations Update: Pompeo’s RNC Speech, DeJoy’s Calendars, and Kentucky’s Voter Fraud Task Force

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Interior, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DOD - Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, DOD - Defense Logistics Agency, DOI - National Park Service, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS Office of the Inspector General, Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, Kentucky State Board of Elections, Small Business Administration, U.S. Office of Special Counsel, United States Postal Service, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
September 8, 2020

Covid-19 Oversight News: The Administration’s Vaccine Timeline, PPP Loan Fraud, and Coronavirus Task Force Reports

Congress, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Government Accountability Office, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institutes of Health
September 1, 2020

Investigations Update: Operation Legend, Crossfire Hurricane, and the Rush for a Coronavirus Vaccine

Arizona Department of Health Services, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - National Security Division, Federal Communications Commission, Georgia - Sumter County, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, Illinois - Chicago Mayor's Office, Illinois - Chicago Police Department, Illinois - Office of the Governor, Missouri - Kansas City Mayor's Office, Missouri - Office of the Governor, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, New Mexico - Albuquerque Mayor's Office, New Mexico - Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Office of the Governor, North Carolina, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Ohio - City of Cleveland Mayor's Office, Ohio - Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio Office of the Governor, United States Postal Service, USDA - Food Safety and Inspection Service, White House, Wisconsin - Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - Milwaukee Mayor's Office, Wisconsin - Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Office of the Governor
August 27, 2020

News Roundup: The Rules That (Don’t) Apply

DHS - United States Secret Service, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, United States Postal Service
August 25, 2020

Investigations Update: Attorney General Barr’s Conduct, Airline Industry Influence, and Trump’s Suggestion to Postpone the Election

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - Office of Legal Counsel, DOT - Federal Aviation Administration, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Postal Service
August 20, 2020

The Latest in American Oversight’s Covid-19 Investigations

Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, Louisiana - New Orleans Mayor's Office, Louisiana Department of Health, United States Postal Service, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
August 18, 2020

Investigations Update: Postal Service Sabotage, Covid-19 Operation Warp Speed, and Portland Protest Deployment Costs

Central Intelligence Agency, Colorado Attorney General, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of State, DHS - Federal Protective Service, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defense, DHS - Transportation Security Administration, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - United States Coast Guard, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, DOL - Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Drug Enforcement Administration, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, White House - Office of Management and Budget
August 11, 2020

Investigations Update: Covid-19 Medical Supplies Lawsuit, Rio Grande Valley Outbreak, and Operation Legend

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DOD - National Security Agency, DOJ - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DOJ - Civil Division, DOJ - Criminal Division, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, DOJ - Office of Justice Programs, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, North Carolina Attorney General, Texas - Hidalgo County, Texas - Starr County, Texas Attorney General, Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Office of the Governor, U.S. Agency for International Development
August 6, 2020

News Roundup: The Levers of Power

Commerce - Census Bureau, Department of Justice, United States Postal Service
August 4, 2020

Investigations Update: DHS Intelligence Efforts in Portland, the Politicization of Key Government Agency, and the Pandemic’s Impact on Census

Arizona Attorney General, Commerce - Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Transportation, DHS - Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Georgia Office of the Governor, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, State Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Agency for Global Media, U.S. Election Assistance Commission
July 28, 2020

Investigations Update: ‘Burrowing In,’ Voter Fraud Task Forces, and Federal Law Enforcement

Arizona Attorney General, Arizona Office of the Governor, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS - United States Secret Service, DHS Office of Inspector General, DOJ - Executive Office for Immigration Review, DOJ Office of the Inspector General, Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Attorney General, Florida Department of State, Florida Office of the Governor, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, Kentucky Attorney General, Kentucky Secretary of State, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Nevada Secretary of State, New York Office of the Governor, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Personnel Management, Oklahoma Attorney General, Oklahoma Office of the Governor, Oregon - Portland Independent Police Review Division, Oregon - Portland Mayor's Office, Oregon - Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Office of the Governor, Small Business Administration, U.S. Agency for Global Media, U.S. Agency for International Development, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Wisconsin Elections Commission
July 24, 2020

News Roundup: The Political Theater of ‘Operation Legend’

Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, State Office of the Inspector General
July 21, 2020

Investigations Update: Trump Administration’s Occupation of Portland, CDC Hospital Data, and the Republican Convention

California Department of Public Health, California Department of Technology, Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida - Jacksonville Mayor’s Office, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Management Services, Florida Office of the Governor, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Office of the Governor, Georgia Technology Authority, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, New York Office of the Governor, New York State Department of Health, New York State Office of Information Technology Services, Small Business Administration, Texas Health and Human Services, Texas Office of the Governor, Wisconsin - Waukesha County
July 17, 2020

News Roundup: Transparency in Hospital Data, and Barr’s Meetings with Giuliani and Gowdy

Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, White House - Office of Management and Budget
July 14, 2020

Investigations Update: Militarization of Police, Covid-19 in Migrant Detention Centers, and Barr’s Political Interference

Central Intelligence Agency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, DHS - Transportation Security Administration, DOD - Defense Logistics Agency, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - Office of Legal Counsel, Florida - Palm Beach County, General Services Administration
July 10, 2020

News Roundup: Sidelining Safety and Science

Florida House of Representatives, Illinois - Chicago Mayor's Office, Illinois - Cook County
July 8, 2020

Investigations Update: Mike Pompeo’s Abuses of Office, Trump’s Loyalty Purges, and Caring for Uninsured Covid-19 Patients

Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Department of State, Florida House of Representatives, Florida Senate, HHS - Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, Iowa Office of the Governor, Iowa Secretary of State, National Credit Union Administration, Nevada Office of the Governor, Nevada Secretary of State, New Hampshire Office of the Governor, North Carolina House of Representatives, Office of Personnel Management, Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Office of the Governor, Ohio Secretary of State, Ohio Senate, Small Business Administration, Texas House of Representatives, Texas Office of the Governor, Texas Secretary of State, Texas Senate, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
July 2, 2020

News Roundup: ‘It’s Going to Sort of Just Disappear’

Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Treasury, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Oklahoma - Tulsa County
July 2, 2020

Tulsa Health Officials Initially Estimated Trump Rally Would Directly Lead to 2 to 9 Deaths

Oklahoma - Tulsa County
July 1, 2020

American Oversight Sues Treasury for Records Related to Coronavirus Stimulus

Department of the Treasury
June 30, 2020

Investigations Update: Family Separation, Unmarked Law Enforcement, and Trump’s Campaign Rallies

Arizona Department of Health Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Interior, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - Transportation Security Administration, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOD - Defense Intelligence Agency, DOD - Department of the Army, DOD - National Guard Bureau, DOI - National Park Service, DOJ - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida Department of Health, New Hampshire Attorney General, New Hampshire Office of the Governor, New Hampshire Secretary of State, North Carolina Department of Health, Oklahoma - Tulsa County, Oklahoma Department of Health, Securities and Exchange Commission, Texas - Cameron County, Texas - Dallas County, Texas - Nueces County, Texas - Tarrant County, Texas - Travis County, Texas Attorney General, U.S. Agency for International Development
June 23, 2020

The Federal Government’s Latest Attempt to Delay the Release of Coronavirus Documents

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration
June 19, 2020

News Roundup: The Administration’s Failure to Confront Two National Crises

Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DOJ - Civil Division, DOJ - Civil Rights Division, DOT Office of Inspector General, Florida - Jacksonville Mayor’s Office, Florida Department of Health, Florida Office of the Governor, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Credit Union Administration, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Small Business Administration, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Treasury - Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, United States Postal Service, White House - Office of Science and Technology Policy, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
June 18, 2020

American Oversight Sues ICE for Records of Detention Center Complaints

DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement
June 18, 2020

New Lawsuit Seeks Records of Jared Kushner’s Failed Coronavirus Supply Chain Task Force

Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
June 17, 2020

Wisconsin Documents Offer Window into Early Uncertainty over Covid-19

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
June 12, 2020

News Roundup: Georgia’s Disastrous Election, the Administration’s Alarming Protest Response, and Barr’s Troubling Tenure

Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Interior, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - Office of Intelligence and Analysis, DHS - Transportation Security Administration, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS - United States Secret Service, District of Columbia Mayor's Office, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, DOD - Defense Intelligence Agency, DOD - Department of the Air Force, DOD - National Guard Bureau, DOI - National Park Service, DOJ - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, DOJ - Civil Division, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, DOJ - Justice Management Division, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida - Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of State, Maryland - Baltimore Mayor's Office, Nevada Secretary of State, New Jersey Department of Human Services, New York City Department for the Aging, New York City Office of the Mayor, New York Police Department, New York State Department of Health, New York State Office for the Aging, North Carolina, North Carolina House of Representatives, North Carolina Senate, Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Secretary of State, Ohio Senate, State Office of the Inspector General, Texas Secretary of State, United States Postal Service, White House - Office of Management and Budget, Wisconsin Elections Commission
June 11, 2020

In the Documents: Florida Health Department Efforts to Suppress Release of Coronavirus Records

Florida - Miami-Dade County
June 5, 2020

News Roundup: Trump and Barr Unleash Attack on Protesters — and the Constitution

Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - Transportation Security Administration, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS - United States Secret Service, DOD - Department of the Army, DOD - National Guard Bureau, DOJ - Executive Office for Immigration Review, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, DOT - Federal Aviation Administration, Florida Department of State, Florida House of Representatives, Florida Office of the Governor, Florida Senate, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Washington - King County
June 5, 2020

In the Documents: Coronavirus-Related Records from Nevada and King County, Wash.

May 29, 2020

News Roundup: A Somber Week After Memorial Day

Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOD - Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, DOD - Department of the Army, DOD - National Security Agency, DOD - U.S. Department of the Navy, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, North Carolina Department of Health, North Carolina Office of the Governor, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, U.S. Agency for Global Media, Wisconsin - Brown County, Wisconsin - Dane County, Wisconsin - Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - Outagamie County, Wisconsin - Waukesha County, Wisconsin - Winnebago County
May 22, 2020

News Roundup: One Firing, Multiple Scandals

Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Interior, DOD - Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia - Athens-Clarke County, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia Department of Administrative Services, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Secretary of State, Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Small Business Administration, State Office of the Inspector General, Texas - Bexar County, Texas - Dallas County, Texas - Harris County, Texas - Travis County, Texas - Webb County, Texas Department of State Health Services, U.S. Agency for International Development, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
May 21, 2020

American Oversight Sues Administration for Documentation of Detention Center Covid Response

Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons
May 15, 2020

News Roundup: The Subversion of Justice at the Justice Department

Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOJ - Office of Legal Counsel, DOT - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia Department of Corrections, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, Louisiana - New Orleans Mayor's Office, Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Office of the Governor, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City Office of the Mayor, New York Office of the Governor, New York State Department of Health, Small Business Administration, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, United States Postal Service, White House - Office of Management and Budget, Wisconsin Elections Commission
May 15, 2020

The CDC Has Been Illegally Rejecting Valid FOIA Requests. We’re Suing.

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
May 8, 2020

News Roundup: Who Will Watch the Inspectors General?

Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - United States Coast Guard, DOD - Department of the Air Force, DOD - Department of the Army, DOD - U.S. Department of the Navy, DOD - U.S. Marine Corps, DOJ - Civil Division, DOJ - Criminal Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Election Commission, Georgia - Troup County, Georgia Attorney General, Georgia Department of Administrative Services, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Treasury - Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Agency for International Development, White House - Office of Management and Budget
May 6, 2020

American Oversight Sues Treasury, State and HHS for Coronavirus Communications

Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services
May 1, 2020

News Roundup: Protecting the Right to Vote During a Pandemic

Arizona - Yuma County, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Arizona Department of Homeland Security, Arizona-Mexico Commission, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Department of State, Florida Office of the Governor, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - DeKalb County, Georgia - Fulton County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia - Richmond County, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, Indiana Secretary of State, Iowa Secretary of State, Kentucky Secretary of State, Kentucky State Board of Elections, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, New Jersey - Essex County, New Orleans, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Texas Attorney General, Texas Secretary of State, Wisconsin Elections Commission
April 30, 2020

New Documents: Calendars of HHS Officials Involved in Reversing Health Care Nondiscrimination Protections

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Administration for Children and Families
April 24, 2020

News Roundup: Miracle Drugs and Trump’s Alternate Reality

Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, Florida Department of Corrections, General Services Administration, Georgia - Albany-Dougherty County, Georgia - Chatham County, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - DeKalb County, Georgia - Fulton County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia - Macon-Bibb County, Georgia - Muscogee County, Georgia - Richmond County, Georgia Department of Community Health, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, Illinois - Cook County, Texas Health and Human Services, USDA - Food Safety and Inspection Service, VA - Veterans Health Administration, Washington - King County, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
April 23, 2020

An Update on American Oversight’s Coronavirus Investigation: New Lawsuits and Requests

Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Treasury - Internal Revenue Service, USDA - Food Safety and Inspection Service
April 17, 2020

News Roundup: Who Stands to Gain?

Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Reserve, Florida, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Florida Department of Health, Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Office of the Governor, Georgia - Tybee Island City, Georgia Department of Administrative Services, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Office of the Governor, Georgia Secretary of State, Small Business Administration, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin State Assembly
April 10, 2020

News Roundup: Corruption and Coronavirus

Commerce - Census Bureau, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS - United States Secret Service, DOD - U.S. Department of the Navy, DOJ - Executive Office for Immigration Review, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - Justice Management Division, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, DOJ - Office of Legal Counsel, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - Indian Health Service, Nevada Department of Administration, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, U.S. Agency for International Development
April 10, 2020

American Oversight Sues for Coronavirus-Related Records

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration
April 3, 2020

News Roundup: Whose Stockpile, and Which States?

California Office of the Governor, Central Intelligence Agency, Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida - Broward County, Florida - Duval County, Florida - Gadsden County, Florida - Hendry County, Florida - Jackson County, Florida - Leon County, Florida - Miami-Dade County, Florida - Osceola County, Florida Office of the Governor, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, New York Office of the Governor, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Ohio Office of the Governor, Oklahoma Department of Health, Oklahoma Office of the Governor, Texas Attorney General, Texas Office of the Governor, Washington - King County, Washington Office of the Governor, White House - Office of Management and Budget
March 30, 2020

‘We Are Flying Blind’: Health Officials’ Late February Emails Show Rising Coronavirus Concerns

Washington - King County
March 28, 2020

A Pandemic Is No Time for Secrecy

March 27, 2020

News Roundup: Transparency and Oversight Are More Important Than Ever

Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOJ - Executive Office for Immigration Review, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - National Security Division, DOJ - U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Election Commission, Florida Attorney General, Florida Department of State, Florida Office of the Governor, General Services Administration, Georgia - Bartow County, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - DeKalb County, Georgia - Fulton County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia Office of the Governor, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tennessee Valley Authority, Texas Attorney General, Texas Office of the Governor, Texas Secretary of State, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
March 24, 2020

We Cannot Let Trump Use a National Emergency to Get Rich and Ignore the Constitution

Congress, White House
March 23, 2020

CDC Calendars from 2018 and 2019: Pandemic-Related Briefings and Meetings

HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
March 20, 2020

News Roundup: Testing, Messaging and Missed Chances

Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Federal Communications Commission, Florida Attorney General, Georgia Attorney General, Nevada Department of Administration, Texas - Harris County, Texas Attorney General, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
March 20, 2020

An Update on American Oversight’s Coronavirus Investigation

Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Reserve, HHS - Administration for Children and Families, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, New York Office of the Governor, New York State Department of Health, Texas Department of State Health Services, U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington - King County, Washington State Department of Health, White House - Office of Management and Budget, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
March 13, 2020

News Roundup: Continuing Our Investigation of Coronavirus Response

Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Federal Reserve, Georgia Secretary of State, Texas Secretary of State, Washington State Department of Health, Wisconsin
March 6, 2020

News Roundup: Rising Coronavirus Fears and Sinking Public Trust

Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DOI - Bureau of Land Management, DOJ - Criminal Division, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, Federal Reserve, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Department of Driver Services, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Administration for Children and Families, HHS - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, HHS - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HHS - National Institutes of Health, Texas - Briscoe County, Texas - Freestone County, Texas - Hall County, Texas - Hill County, Texas - Hood County, Texas - Jones County, Texas - Kendall County, Texas - Lavaca County, Texas - Leon County, Texas - Limestone County, Texas - Loving County, Texas - Morris County, Texas - Scurry County, Texas - Starr County, Texas - Swisher County, Texas - Victoria County, Texas Secretary of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, VA - Veterans Health Administration, Washington - King County, Washington State Department of Health, White House - Office of Management and Budget, White House - Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
March 2, 2020

In the Documents: Read the Script for an HHS Anti-Obamacare Ad That Was Apparently Never Released

Department of Health and Human Services
February 28, 2020

News Roundup: Launching Our Investigation of Trump’s Authoritarian Purges

Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, DOD - National Security Agency, DOI - Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida - Hillsborough County, Florida - Leon County, Florida Department of State, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
February 21, 2020

News Roundup: The Post-Impeachment Purge and the Knock of Authoritarianism

Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of State, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, DHS - United States Secret Service, DOI - Fish and Wildlife Service, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, White House - Office of Management and Budget
February 14, 2020

News Roundup: Trump Has Learned His ‘Lesson’

Central Intelligence Agency, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, DOJ - Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, DOJ - Office of Information Policy, Federal Reserve, Florida House of Representatives, Florida Senate, Georgia - Cobb County, Georgia - DeKalb County, Georgia - Fulton County, Georgia - Gwinnett County, Georgia Secretary of State, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services, Kentucky Office of the Governor, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin State Assembly
January 17, 2020

News Roundup: The Evidence Continues to Mount

Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia - Clayton County, Georgia - Hancock County, Georgia - Jefferson County, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services
September 6, 2019

News Roundup: Trump’s Enthusiastic Support for New Drug Raises Questions

Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, DHS - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DOJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, Georgia Department of Driver Services, HHS - Food and Drug Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Texas Attorney General, White House - Council on Environmental Quality
August 27, 2019

Investigating HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s Connections to Pharmaceutical Companies

Department of Health and Human Services
August 13, 2019

More Examples of Personal Email Use and Heavy-Handed Outside Influence at the VA

Department of Veterans Affairs
June 4, 2019

Documents Reveal Extent of Koch-Funded VA Privatization Group’s Influence

Department of Veterans Affairs
May 30, 2019

Trump Administration Appeals Court Decision Ordering It to Turn Over Communications with Congress About ACA Sabotage

Congress, Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
April 2, 2019

Federal Judge Rejects Administration’s Argument for Withholding Communications with Congress about ACA Sabotage

Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
March 8, 2019

Watchdogs Sue HHS Following Women’s Health Website Overhaul

Department of Health and Human Services
March 1, 2019

HHS Secretary Azar Calendars Show Multiple Meetings with Conservative Health-Care Groups

Department of Health and Human Services
February 21, 2019

New Lawsuit Seeks HHS Communications with Anti-Abortion Groups

Department of Health and Human Services
March 9, 2018

American Oversight Sues HHS and CMS for Verma Ethics Records

Department of Health and Human Services, HHS - Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services
October 17, 2017

Health Care Lawsuit: Fighting for Transparency

Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
September 15, 2017

Congress Enters Legal Fight to Block Release of Obamacare Repeal Emails

Congress, Department of Health and Human Services
September 13, 2017

“News to Me!” – Inside the Health Care Emails

White House - Office of Management and Budget
September 7, 2017

Third Set of Health Care Emails Again Shows Trump Administration Effort to Hide Negotiations

Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
August 2, 2017

New Health Care Documents Show Effort to Hide Details of Negotiations

Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
July 20, 2017

American Oversight Sues HHS and OMB For Secret Trump Letter Outlining Plan to Weaken Obamacare

Department of Health and Human Services, White House, White House - Office of Management and Budget
May 4, 2017

Watchdog Files Lawsuit, Seeks Injunction for HHS, OMB Health Care Negotiation Record

Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
March 23, 2017

American Oversight Demands Release of Secret Health Care Negotiations

Department of Health and Human Services, White House - Office of Management and Budget
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