NEW: The loss of credibility in CDC has sent morale to all-time low. “The worst is the silence,” one scientist said. “You can’t explain what’s going on, correct mistakes, clarify things quickly before they spin up and out of control.” Me + @joelachenbach wapo.st/30hUXkC
@JoelAchenbach 1/ Career staff at CDC remain proud of the expertise, talent and professionalism that the agency can bring to bear in a crisis. But they see the agency’s situation clearly.
@JoelAchenbach 2/The CDC has endured false accusations and interference by Trump administration political appointees, leading to loss of institutional credibility at a time when the nation desperately needs to know whom to trust.
@JoelAchenbach 3/ CDC Director Robert Redfield has been publicly criticized by President Trump + his now-favored pandemic adviser, Scott Atlas, who has said pandemic fears are overblown.
@JoelAchenbach 4/ A CDC epidemiologist on the political interference in the agency: "I never would have expected the level of political interference we're seeing now. It's so sad."
@JoelAchenbach 5/ Within CDC, some say problems could be reversed with a different director. Some experts like @doritmi say CDC leadership should be a board like Federal Reserve.
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