Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
With Stockpile Full, HHS Cancels Ventilator Contracts
AP: HHS Cancelling Ventilator Contracts, Says Stockpile Is Full
The Trump administration is canceling some of its remaining orders for ventilators, after rushing to sign nearly $3 billion in emergency contracts as the COVID-19 pandemic surged in the spring. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement Tuesday affirming that the national stockpile has now reached its maximum capacity for the life-saving breathing machines, with nearly 120,000 available for deployment to state and local health officials if need. Though the orders were billed as a cost-saving measure, Democrats said the cancellations show the White House vastly overspent in its quest to fulfill President Donald Trump’s pledge to make the United States the “King of Ventilators.” (Biesecker, 9/2)
Detroit Free Press: GM And Ford Deliver The Last Ventilators Amid Coronavirus
General Motors and Ford Motor Co. are exiting the ventilator business, turning their focus back to the car business. Both automakers have fulfilled the terms of the contracts they had with the federal government to make the life-saving machines. (LaReau, 9/1)
In other Trump administration news —
ABC News: Trump Admin. Considers Enlisting Celebs As Part Of $250M COVID-19 Public Health Ad Campaign
The Department of Health and Human Services is considering launching a major new public health campaign on COVID-19 that could include spending some $250 million on communications and public relations experts and potentially rope in Hollywood actors, sports figures and music artists, according to an agency official. The push comes as President Donald Trump faces skepticism among voters that the federal government is doing enough to address the health crisis. (Dukakis and Flaherty, 9/1)
NPR: Trump Administration Seeking To Expand Collection Of Biometric Data From Immigrants
The Trump administration is considering drastically expanding the government's collection of biometric information from immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday. The proposal would allow the government to demand more personal data, from more people, more often as part of the immigration application process. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services currently requires biometrics, or biological measurements, from anyone over the age of 14 who applies for certain immigration benefits. That information is limited to fingerprints, photographs and signatures, but would be expanded under the proposed policy change to include DNA, eye scans, voice prints and photographs for facial recognition. (Treisman, 9/1)
AP: White House Public Tours To Resume Sept. 12 With COVID Rules
Public tours of the White House, halted nearly six months ago due to the coronavirus outbreak, are set to resume later this month with new health and safety policies in place. Tours will resume Sept. 12, for two days a week instead of five, and for just a few hours a day, the first lady’s office announced Tuesday. The number of visitors will also be capped. (Superville, 9/1)
