Section 3.5 - Q8 - What Does Project 2025 Say?

“COVID-19 exposed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as perhaps the most incompetent and arrogant agency in the federal government. CDC continually misjudged COVID-19, from its lethality, transmissibility, and origins to treatments. We were told masks were not needed; then they were made mandatory. CDC botched the development of COVID tests when they were needed most. When it was too late, we were told to put our lives on hold for “two weeks to flatten the curve;” that turned into two years of interference and restrictions on the smallest details of our lives.”

Citation: Project 2025, Section 3.5: Department of Health and Human Services, Roger Severino, page 484, paragraph 6

Context:

The CDC did make some missteps, but calling it “perhaps the most incompetent and arrogant agency” is a significant overstatement.

The CDC, along with other health agencies, had to continuously update its understanding of the virus as new data emerged. Early in the pandemic, the full extent of COVID-19’s transmissibility and lethality was not well understood, leading to frequent updates in guidelines. This is typical in a rapidly evolving situation, though it caused confusion and frustration. Science changes its mind in the face of new evidence.

“Science is not the truth. Science is finding the truth. When science changes its opinion, it didn’t lie to you. It learned more.” – Brene Brown

We still don’t know the origins of the virus and never have, so for Severino to indicate that the CDC “misjudged” the origins is a lie. They haven’t judged them at all (although zoonotic transmission or a lab leak are leading theories.)

Full contextual analysis of Section 3.5: Department of Health and Human Services here.

Section: Section 3.5: Department of Health and Human Services

Categories: COVID-19, Health Care