Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
What's The Harm Of Transition Delay? 'More People May Die,' Biden Says
The New York Times: ‘More People May Die’ Because of Trump’s Transition Delay, Biden Says
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Monday sharpened his criticism of President Trump’s refusal to cooperate in an orderly transition, warning that “more people may die” from the coronavirus if the president does not agree to coordinate planning for the mass distribution of a vaccine when it becomes available. It was a marked shift in tone for the president-elect, intended to pressure Mr. Trump after Mr. Biden and his team had played down the difficulty of setting up a new government without the departing administration’s help. (Crowley and Shear, 11/16)
NPR: 'More People May Die': Biden Chides Trump For Blocking Presidential Transition
The comments are his most stark to date about the impact that a delayed transition could have on his ability to hit the ground running after he takes office. "They say they have this Warp Speed program," he continued, referring to the Trump administration's vaccine development and delivery program, Operation Warp Speed. "If we have to wait until Jan. 20 to start that planning, it puts us behind." (Wise, 11/16)
The Washington Post: Biden Takes On Trump Over Transition Delays, Says Lives Are At Stake
He also pointed out the absurdity that Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), the vice president-elect, still has access to classified intelligence briefings because she is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. But Biden himself is not able to get those briefings because Trump’s administration has yet to acknowledge that Biden won the election. (Viser, 11/16)
AP: 'More People May Die': Biden Urges Trump To Aid Transition
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said it’s “absolutely crucial that the apparent president-elect and his team have full access to the planning that has gone on” for vaccine distribution. “It is no easy matter” to distribute a vaccine, Collins said, so “it’s absolutely imperative for public health, that all of the planning that’s gone on for which the current administration deserves credit, be shared with the new administration.” (Peoples and Jaffe, 11/17)
Also —
AP: Head Of Govt Agency Under Pressure To Let Transition Proceed
It’s been 10 days since President-elect Joe Biden crossed the 270 electoral vote mark to defeat President Donald Trump and win the presidency. Unlike the 2000 election, when the winner of the election was truly unknown for weeks, this time it is clear that Biden won, although Trump is refusing to concede. But Emily Murphy, the head of the General Services Administration, has yet to certify Biden as the winner, stalling the launch of the official transition process. When she does ascertain that Biden won, it will free up money for the transition and clear the way for Biden’s team to begin placing transition personnel at federal agencies. (Madhani, 11/17)
The Hill: Fauci 'Concerned' About Slow Transition Between Trump And Biden
Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, on Monday said he's "concerned" about the stalled transition process between President Trump and President-elect Joe Biden. "Obviously it's something that we're concerned about," he said in an appearance on NBC's "Today," pointing to the need for a "smooth process" for approving and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine. (Cohn, 11/16)
