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WASHINGTON: The top US health official. The US, Anthony Fauci, will not testify next week before a congressional committee that will examine the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said Friday, calling it “counterproductive” for people involved in the response to testify.
The White House released a statement via email after a spokesman for the House of Representatives committee holding the hearing said the panel had been informed by Trump administration officials that Fauci had been blocked from testifying.
“While the Trump administration continues its government-wide response to COVID-19, including the safe opening of the United States again and streamlining the development of vaccines, it is counterproductive to have the same people involved in those efforts that appear in the hearings of the Congress”. House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement. “We are committed to working with Congress to offer testimony at the appropriate time.”
The House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees health programs was seeking Fauci’s testimony for a hearing on May 6, spokesman Evan Hollander said. The Washington Post first reported that Fauci would not testify.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been one of the leading medical experts who has helped guide the US response. USA The highly contagious virus that has spread throughout the United States.
Trump has repeatedly clashed with the House controlled by Democrats over his moves to investigate his actions or those of his administration.
In recent days, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer have called for an extensive investigation into Trump’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed tens of thousands of Americans.
Democrats have criticized Trump, saying he has failed to develop a comprehensive and effective plan to screen Americans for the coronavirus and trace the contacts of those who are infected with the virus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, sometimes mortal.
Fauci, 79, has had a respectful but sometimes complicated relationship with Trump.
The well-regarded doctor sometimes corrected or contradicted the president at White House briefings or in press interviews on topics such as the time required to develop a vaccine and the likelihood that the coronavirus will return in the fall.
Trump has occasionally shown exasperation with Fauci, but has ultimately followed, to a large extent, the advice he and Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, have given in responding to the pandemic.
Last month, the White House said Trump was not firing Fauci despite retweeting a supporter’s #FireFauci message.
At the time, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said: “Dr. Fauci has been and continues to be a trusted adviser to President Trump.”
Fauci’s aides were not immediately available to comment on the House committee’s desire for him to testify.
