WASHINGTON — President Obama had an Ebola “czar.’’ George W. Bush and Clinton had AIDS czars. So as the outbreak from China spreads, some lawmakers and public health experts say that an obvious step is for President Trump to appoint a White House-level coordinator, a coronavirus “czar.’’
What works best, they said, is to have a quarterback who has both the ear of the president and the backing to corral the sprawling federal agencies that would respond to an epidemic.
“There is a lot of great work being done by experts throughout our federal health and research agencies, but there is no overarching coordination and strategy,” Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) told STAT. The position, he added, should be permanent and based at the National Security Council, “not just for coronavirus, but for every threatening infectious disease that emerges.”
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect