At a hearing Tuesday on the Trump Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci addressed questions regarding the administration’s “sluggish initial response.” 

Congress heard from leaders of government and non-government organizations vital to the response, including Anthony Fauci, M.D.; Admiral Brett Giroir, M.D, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services; Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. Commissioner for the FDA; and Robert Redfield, M.D. Director of the CDC.

Containment and contact tracing

During the hearings, Congressman Pallone expressed general concerns over the Trump administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a “sluggish initial response,” lack of resources for testing, and a lack of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for frontline workers. 

He urged the committee and the witnesses to consider the Senate’s inability to pass the Heroes Act, which would provide the Department of Health and Human Services with $75 billion to develop a national testing and contact tracing plan.