Late on Monday, House Republicans extended an invitation to Rochelle Walensky, the outgoing Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to testify before Congress regarding her agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This move by the GOP indicates an increased focus on oversight concerning “undue influence” during the crisis.
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, led by Republicans, initially requested a comprehensive collection of records from Walensky in late March. This request was made in response to revelations that the CDC had sought input from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), a prominent teachers union, regarding school reopening guidelines in February 2021.
However, since Walensky has not produced any relevant documents in response to the committee’s request, the committee is renewing its demand for information. Additionally, a date of June 13 has been set for Walensky to provide testimony and provide insights into the CDC’s connections with Randi Weingarten, the president of the teachers union.
