Senator Husted Critiques CDC for Political Influence in Pandemic Response

During a Senate hearing on October 25, 2023, U.S. Senator Jon Husted criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for prioritizing political motivations over scientific evidence in its pandemic response. Husted claimed that the agency’s decisions have had a detrimental impact on children across the United States. Testifying was Susan Monarez, the former CDC director who was dismissed after just 29 days in office amid conflicts with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Criticism of CDC’s Pandemic Guidance

Speaking to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Husted drew on his experience as lieutenant governor during the pandemic. He asserted that the CDC’s guidance was influenced by political agendas rather than grounded in scientific research. “Everybody kept saying it’s based on the science, and yet we know that now that that guidance was based on politics and special interests,” Husted stated. He emphasized that the agency’s actions had shifted from safeguarding children’s health to allowing activism to interfere with scientific integrity.

Husted pointed to specific instances of what he described as political interference, including findings from the House Oversight Committee. This investigation revealed that the CDC permitted the American Federation of Teachers to modify its school reopening guidelines, leading to prolonged closures that significantly affected students’ academic and emotional well-being. He cited a decline in student test scores during the pandemic and noted projections indicating that these learning losses could diminish lifetime earnings for affected children. Additionally, Husted highlighted alarming statistics showing a 51% increase in suicide attempts among girls aged 12 to 17 during the pandemic.

Vaccine Policy and Parental Concerns

During the questioning of Monarez, Husted raised concerns regarding current vaccine recommendations for healthy school-aged children. He asked if parents would be “endangering the lives of their healthy children” by opting out of COVID-19 vaccinations. Monarez advised that parents should consult pediatricians to weigh the benefits and risks. Husted challenged this public health messaging, arguing it could be perceived as alarmist. “There are good reasons for doing it, and we should tell them that, but we shouldn’t scare people in saying that we’re endangering their lives,” he remarked.

The hearing focused heavily on Monarez’s brief tenure and her contentious relationship with Kennedy over vaccine policy. Monarez testified that she faced pressure from Kennedy to approve changes to the childhood vaccination schedule without prior scientific evaluation. She also claimed that Kennedy instructed her to terminate career officials and ensure that political staff had a say in policy decisions.

Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator from Louisiana, questioned the rationale behind her dismissal after a unanimous confirmation from Republican senators. In contrast, Democratic members of the committee expressed concerns about Kennedy’s apparent biases in making vaccine policy decisions.

In conclusion, Husted advocated for a renewed focus on the CDC’s core mission, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based decisions in matters affecting children’s health and education. “We must never again allow political influence to dictate the decisions of our children’s health, education and future, whether that’s with pandemics or vaccines,” he asserted.