Top administration officials said last year threat of pandemic kept them up at night

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Tim Morrison, then a special assistant to the President and senior director for weapons of mass destruction and biodefense on the National Security Council, made the comments at the BioDefense Summit in April 2019.

"Of course, the thing that people ask: 'What keeps you most up at night in the biodefense world?' Pandemic flu, of course. I think everyone in this room probably shares that concern," Azar said, before listing off efforts to mitigate the impact of flu outbreaks.

The Trump administration is facing scrutiny over its preparations for the coronavirus pandemic and its slow response to provide states and cities assistance in testing kits and personal protective equipment. The 2019 summit, hosted by the assistant secretary for preparedness and response in the Department of Health and Human Services to "discuss and solicit input on implementing the National Biodefense Strategy," offers insights into early awareness of the potential for a pandemic threat.

The Trump administration is facing scrutiny over its preparations for the coronavirus pandemic and its slow response to provide states and cities assistance in testing kits and personal protective equipment. The 2019 summit, hosted by the assistant secretary for preparedness and response in the Department of Health and Human Services to "discuss and solicit input on implementing the National Biodefense Strategy," offers insights into early awareness of the potential for a pandemic threat.


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/top-administration-officials-said-last-year-threat-of-pandemic-kept-them-up-at-night/ar-BB128lpa?ocid=hplocalnews

---

This is confusing. I thought Trump has repeatedly said no one predicted a pandemic crisis like the one caused by coronavirus. Yet, shortly before ending a pandemic early warning program, the HHS Secretary was identifying a pandemic as the biggest threat. Oh well, I guess you need to fund Trump's tax cuts to the rich.

[robertpaulsen]

1. They weren't the only ones. The Pentagon had a 2017 plan on it.

"Despite President Trump’s repeated assertions that the Covid-19 epidemic was “unforeseen” and “came out of nowhere,” the Pentagon was well aware of not just the threat of a novel influenza, but even anticipated the consequent scarcity of ventilators, face masks, and hospital beds, according to a 2017 Pentagon plan obtained by The Nation."

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/covid-military-shortage-pandemic/?fbclid=IwAR0lOHSK7sZzn7n92ETyMLXok3ZErUgUVzf8FCeOAwfkw39ih5FLCQttlsM

There needs to be a thorough investigation so that the American people understand the full scope of just how much blood is on this administration's hands. It did not have to be this catastrophic!

[IronLionZion]

2. There's profit to be made from other's people's death and suffering

When President Biden takes office, he needs to investigate and prosecute these assholes for criminal negligence

[Hotler]

6. I'm concerned he will say now is not the time to point fingers.

We need to put this behind us and move on....... the orange one and his spawn will get a pass just like Bush-Cheney did.

[IronLionZion]

8. We can't politicize a tragedy.

It's an act of God or China. Build the wall to keep out diseased unvaccinated foreigners.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Alazar has been very quiet lately. Is HEALTH the first word in HHS name?

[mpcamb]

4. 'threat of pandemic kept them up at night" Lotta freakin'good that did.

[TomCADem]

5. Alex Azar Did Not Push Testing Because Trump Did Not Want His Numbers...

...to go up. This is what is so evil about Trump. If you do your job and tell the truth, you will be fired thanks to the GOP Senate that gave Trump a free pass.

[Hotler]

7. Sure it kept them up but, not because they were worried about...

citizens getting sick or dying. They were worrying about their stock portfolios.