CARES Act: experts identified safeguards to help selected HHS agencies protect against potential political interference : report to congressional requesters

CARES Act: experts identified safeguards to help selected HHS agencies protect against potential political interference : report to congressional requesters

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, September 2023
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Government Regulation
Legislation, Medical
Politics
Professional Misconduct
United States
United States.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. Recent reports have identified shortcomings in HHS’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including allegations of political interference. In April 2022, GAO made recommendations to HHS and agency heads, including that they develop procedures for reporting and addressing allegations of political interference and train staff on how to report such allegations. This report examines further actions selected agencies - CDC, FDA, NIH, and ASPR - could take to protect against such interference. GAO selected these agencies because of the key roles they played in the COVID-19 response. GAO convened a roundtable of 11 experts to discuss actions selected HHS agencies could take to protect against potential political interference. GAO contracted with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to help identify individuals with expertise in this topic area. The selected experts represented a range of perspectives and experiences, including working in the federal government; various academic areas, including political science; and the non-profit sector. GAO also reviewed federal guidance related to scientific integrity and interviewed HHS officials. What GAO recommends. HHS is taking steps to address the recommendations GAO made in April 2022. For example, HHS is updating its scientific integrity policy to include specific provisions prohibiting political interference, among other things, and developing training for staff. GAO will continue to monitor implementation.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (ii, 30 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918734184606676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918734184606676