The Hill: Loss for everyone as CDC’s standing erodes
Leslie Roberts, professor at the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

“In recent weeks it has come to light that the White House blocked an effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to require the use of face masks on public and commercial transportation and initiated, against the wishes of CDC scientists, a March 2020 CDC order to close the U.S. border to asylum seekers — both moves widely and publicly condemned by public health experts. These are just the latest revelations that demonstrate how the administration has hobbled the CDC’s work during the COVID-19 crisis and diminished its scientific standing. On issues related to COVID-19, reports document that the White House has edited CDC publications and altered advisories on testing contacts, on school opening strategies, and on the danger of singing in churches. … The recent degradations of the CDC’s trustworthiness could compromise our ability to cope with emergencies for generations to come. Scientific integrity can only exist when politicians and political candidates are publicly committed to scientific independence: regarding airplane safety, on drug approval procedures, and especially for public health guidelines…” (10/17).