Special Poll
Former FDA Chief Criticizes Biden’s Bird Flu Response, Urges Action from Trump
Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, and Luciana Borio, a former biodefense policy director at the National Security Council, have raised concerns about President Joe Biden’s handling of the bird flu outbreak. In a recent Washington Post op-ed, they urged President-elect Donald Trump’s team to prepare for decisive action once he takes office.
“The Biden administration has been mishandling the outbreak in cattle for months, increasing the likelihood of a dangerous, wider spread,” they wrote, emphasizing the need for stronger federal efforts to contain the issue.
The bird flu outbreak, while resulting in only mild illness in rare human cases, poses the risk of developing more serious strains. Gottlieb and Borio criticized the delay in testing bulk raw milk stocks and implementing quarantine measures for infected dairy herds. Additionally, they noted that a compensation program for farmers impacted by infected livestock wasn’t launched until this past summer, leaving farmers financially vulnerable.
Their sentiments align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has called for expanded bird flu testing among farm workers. Gottlieb and Borio see Trump’s administration as an opportunity to recalibrate public health strategy and take swift, effective action.
They suggested that Trump’s incoming administration focus on balancing public health safeguards with open, accurate communication about risks. During his campaign, Trump briefly addressed agricultural concerns alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, but has yet to outline specific plans for tackling bird flu.
“Every modern presidency faces a major public health crisis,” they wrote, referencing Trump’s management of the initial COVID-19 wave. “This is an opportunity for him to demonstrate how public health safeguards can be thoughtfully matched to real risks, strengthening national security and mitigating threats before they escalate.”
With the transition of power underway, Gottlieb and Borio are calling for urgent leadership to address this potential health crisis and bolster national preparedness.