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American Oversight’s Covid-19 Oversight Hub provides news and policy resources to help you keep track of the investigations into the government’s pandemic response. The project brings together a public documents database, an oversight tracker of important ongoing investigations and litigation, regular news updates, and deeper dives into key issues.
Congressional Hearings
- Tues., July 27: The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis will hold a hearing assessing evictions that occurred during the pandemic and federal efforts to limit them.
- Tues., July 27: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing to discuss lessons learned from the pandemic.
- Tues., July 27: The Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing about protecting the economy and student loan borrowers in the coming months.
- Thurs., July 29: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on the federal government’s coronavirus relief efforts.
- Thurs., July 29: The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing about “the state of America’s seaports.”
State of the Pandemic
In the last two weeks, coronavirus cases in the U.S. have nearly tripled, and the Delta variant now accounts for more than 80 percent of these cases. Vaccine hesitancy is fueling the rise of this variant, as around 30 percent of adults haven’t received even one shot and nearly half of the population is not fully vaccinated.
According to a new Associated Press poll, most of these Americans seem unlikely to get vaccinated: 45 percent of adults who haven’t received the vaccine say they definitely will not do so, and 35 percent say they probably will not. This dwindling demand may also cause millions of unused vaccine doses to expire, going to waste even though state health departments have requested that this excess supply be redistributed to other countries.
In the States
- As coronavirus infection numbers rise around the country, lawmakers in several states, including Missouri, Tennessee, Montana, and Ohio, have promoted anti-vaccination rhetoric or efforts. Some states, like Texas and Florida, have also barred counties and districts from imposing mask mandates and other similar pandemic mitigation efforts.
- Florida is now recording more Covid-19 cases than any other U.S. state and accounts for one in five new infections in the U.S. Last week, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals voted against Florida’s efforts to limit the cruise ship industry’s ability to impose restrictions on passengers, allowing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue enforcing its framework for the resumption of cruises.
- The Texas Department of State Health Services said that 99.5 percent of people who died in the state from Covid-19 since February were unvaccinated. Of the 43 vaccinated people who died, nearly all were 60 or older, and most had a serious health condition.
Report: Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force
The House Armed Services Committee's Defense Critical Supply Chain Task Force published a report of findings from its review of supply chain vulnerabilities. The task force noted that the pandemic exposed the risk to economic and national security from weakened supply chains and recommended that the Defense Department treat supply chain security as a strategic priority, better understand supply chain vulnerabilities, develop risk mitigation strategies, and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries for resources.
Report: Recommendations for Enhancing Federal Pandemic Preparedness
The Government Accountability Office published its seventh report on how federal agencies can improve their pandemic response and preparedness for future public health crises. The GAO urged the CDC to improve collaboration and communication with stakeholders regarding testing. It also asked the Department of Health and Human Services to update its policies for the Strategic National Stockpile, and to develop a supply chain strategy for pandemic preparedness. In addition, the GAO recommended that the Internal Revenue Service update its website and add alerts that clearly explain the nature and extent of tax refund delays during the pandemic.
Investigating Trump Administration Interference at the CDC
The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis has expanded its investigation into political interference at the CDC under President Donald Trump. The committee will especially focus on the political appointees' efforts to alter or undermine the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The subcommittee is requesting interviews with multiple current and past CDC staff members, including Anne Schuchat, a former CDC deputy director.
Congressional Oversight
- Evictions During the Pandemic: The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis wrote to corporate landlords with high pandemic eviction rates, including Invitation Homes, Pretium Partners, Ventron Management, and the Siegel Group. The subcommittee requested documents and information pertaining to alleged failures to comply with eviction moratoria or rental assistance programs.
- Breakthrough Covid-19 Cases: Sen. Ed Markey wrote to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky asking about the steps the agency is taking to ensure that Americans have the most comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date information on Covid-19 "breakthrough" cases among people who are fully vaccinated.
- Inspections of Drug Manufacturing Facilities: The House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote to Acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock requesting information about how the pandemic affected inspections of drug manufacturing facilities. The committee also requested information on what, if any, actions the FDA has taken to mitigate future delays of drug approval decisions.
- IRS Non-Filer Sign-up Tool: The Senate Finance Committee wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig asking his agency to prioritize making improvements to the IRS Non-filer Sign-up Tool. The committee expressed concerns that the technological and design constraints on the portal may prevent vulnerable communities from applying for the Child Tax Credit program.
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