This is the sixth in an eight-article series on “Restoring Trust in Public Health: Lessons from COVID-19.” Four years of the Biden-Harris administration has left Americans rightly skeptical of public health institutions. This series highlights key findings from several congressional oversight reports, including the final report of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and offers lessons for Congress and the new administration on ways to restore trust in public health.
Federal public health responses to COVID-19 revealed a myriad of big shortcomings. This was especially the case with regard to face mask protocols and mandates. In a comprehensive review of federal officials’ responses to COVID-19, the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic found that federal masking policies were often arbitrary and without sufficient scientific…
