Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester shot off a fiery letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding some answers about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current leadership situation. She’s not too thrilled about the ambiguity surrounding the acting director position at the CDC, and she’s not afraid to speak her mind about it. In her three-page message, Blunt Rochester didn’t hold back, suggesting that the person Kennedy claimed was the acting director, Matthew Buzzelli, might not be the best fit for the job. She even brought up the federal Vacancies Act to drive her point home.
Blunt Rochester, a Delaware Democrat, made it crystal clear how she feels about the absence of a CDC director. She thinks it’s a big deal and poses a serious risk to public health in America. Without a leader at the helm, crucial decisions that impact millions of Americans could be left hanging in the balance. To her, this is not a situation to be taken lightly. She’s throwing some serious shade at Buzzelli, questioning his qualifications and legal eligibility to take on the role of acting director. The plot thickens as Blunt Rochester challenges Kennedy to explain why Debra Houry, a more suitable candidate in her eyes, wasn’t named acting director instead.
Kennedy’s testimony before the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee didn’t sit well with Blunt Rochester. She’s not really sure why it took so long for the CDC to reveal who’s in charge, and she’s definitely not buying into Buzzelli’s supposed expertise in public health. The lack of transparency is a major bone of contention for Blunt Rochester, who wants answers and she wants them fast. As she waits for a response from Kennedy, she’s not holding her breath. In the meantime, the CDC continues to operate without a clear leader, leaving critical decisions hanging in the balance. Maybe it’s just her, but something doesn’t quite add up in this whole CDC leadership saga.
