Dear John,

The United States will only be able to stop the economic wreckage, the job loss, and the spiraling deficits once the virus itself is defeated, or at the very least tamed.

What remains incredible is that ten weeks into the pandemic, with death counts and infection rates skyrocketing and tens of millions now unemployed, the President is still refusing to mobilize the federal government to defeat the virus. We are at "war" he says, but he is refusing to mobilize to fight it. The delay in crafting a true national response to the virus has cost America so much; our leaders must band together now in the coming days and force the President to do what he should have done months ago - adopt a four part plan to defeat COVID-19 here at home.

It should include:

1) Surging medical equipment/personnel/beds to the frontlines

2) Enforcing a national, mandatory 21 day stay at home order

3) Finally standing up a testing/surveillance/isolation regime like in South Korea

4) Launching a “Manhattan Project” to develop the vaccine/therapeutics/diagnostics/equipment needed to combat COVID and future pandemics

To put pressure on the President to finally step in and lead us, Speaker Pelosi should consider establishing a "war council" of governors, mayors, and others on the front lines of this fight. We know that the nation cannot rely on Trump and McConnell to lead us through this crisis – this is already known and established. And the Speaker should not go it alone – she should emulate the kind of national leadership we expect from our President and start bringing the nation together through some sort of new, ad hoc governing arrangement.

While the President has squandered these last ten weeks, we should not waste another day. Job one now is a comprehensive national mobilization to defeat the virus. All else must follow this essential task.

Best,

Simon



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