U.S. companies continued their massive sell-off of medical masks overseas throughout March, well after the coronavirus began infecting Americans and draining hospitals of critical supplies and even as White House officials raised red flags, a USA TODAY investigation found.
89-page whistleblower complaint released Tuesday from ousted U.S. Health and Human Services division director Dr. Rick BrightThe complaint includes numerous attachments that detail discussions among government officials as early as January about supply chain issues of personal protective equipment and the possibility of halting U.S. exports.
COVID-19 first appeared in the United States on Jan. 21 and had infected at least 42 Americans by the beginning of March. Businesses were encouraged to export protective masks, mechanical ventilators and even mask making machines to China. The email said the department was setting up a policy team that would look at “government purchases, changes to more restrictive PPE guidance, release of the stockpile, or blocking exports.” The email also alerted the recipients that Taiwan, home to a major manufacturer of N95 masks for U.S. brands, had implemented an export ban five days earlier, on Jan. 24.
Bright, a vaccine expert, alleges he was removed from his post as director of the HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in April after raising concerns about a drug Trump touted as potential treatment for coronavirus. He sent his complaint to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel., a concept that was unheard of before the current shortage.
Yeah, the stupid president took time to investigate the truth and didn't take your word for it. . . what was he thinking? Maybe if your 'investigative' journalism didn't have the reputation of bread crumbs leading to political quicksand he may have responded sooner.
RepLloydDoggett This administration is a total & complete sham. While AMERICAN healthcare workers are wearing garbage bags & reusing masks for PPE, This administration has the nerve to ship 83.1M overseas. NEVER have I seen and administration so UN-AMERICAN as the Trump administration.
We can't find masks to buy here. Quit exporting them!
Were the names ofthe manufacturing/exporting companies divulged? Didn’t your article say 90% of the materials used were imported? Sounds like the US companies assembled & added their name.
What?
WTF!
this eugenically driven mismanagement led DIRECTLY to the deaths of U.S. Healthcare workers - this is federally sponsored gross negligent homicide where workers could not get masks, supplies, ppe to protect themselves in the middle of a pandemic. deathbytrump deathbypence
Someone should pay for this! You're a good candidate realDonaldTrump .
Why? And we can’t even have anything in the local stores. Sounds very weird.
Cause US liberals who run these companies hate America
They are looking better markets with better turn over. Americans needs free masks.
davidstevens111 This is why the president has to take control and organize a plan on the federal level. He could have easily used his power to stop them shipping supplies overseas or to make more, but no. He wouldn't even seek help/advise from competent people because his ego. He is dangerous.
SusanCarver19 That’s called attempted mass murder.
How many nurses did they kill? Bastards
Unbelievable. This is telling that this administration was not concerned in the least until far too late.
America needs a do-over.
Pathetic
This is just wrong...Does anyone have a brain?
These people can’t or won’t refund cancelled tour tickets you gonna trust them with this bullshit keep your money at any means scam. Hard pass. Now would be a good time for artists and venues to speak about a new fair ticketing route
This is not surprising! Other countries like Australia are doing well because of COMPETENT LEADERSHIP! We have NONE!
WTF?
Capitalism.
that doesn't sound very american to me
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