HHS Whistleblower: ‘Darkest Winter in Modern History’ if COVID-19 is Not Reigned In

Washington (Westwood One) – A federal government whistleblower, who raised concerns about the nation’s preparedness and response to the coronavirus pandemic, testifies before Congress.

Despite White House claims, the U.S. still lacks a comprehensive battle plan against the coronavirus in critical areas including masks, testing, treatments and vaccines, whistleblower Rick Bright warned Thursday in testimony before a House committee:

“Our window of opportunity is closing,“ he declared. The nation could face “the darkest winter in modern history’‘ if the virus rebounds, the government vaccine scientist told lawmakers.

“Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history. Our nation was not as prepared as we should have been. Some scientists raised early warning signals that were overlooked.” pic.twitter.com/velR5dnDCu

— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) May 14, 2020

Bright’s appearance came after his ouster last month as head of a Health and Human Services bio-defense agency, an action he alleges was retaliation by the Trump administration:

“We need still a comprehensive plan, and everyone across the government and everyone in America needs to know what that plan is, and what role they play,” he told the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “There are critical steps that we need to do to prepare … we do not still have enough personal protective equipment to manage our health care workers … we still do not have the supply chains ramped up for the drugs and vaccines, and we still don’t have plans in place for how we distribute those drugs and vaccines. We still do not have a comprehensive testing strategy.”

U.S. President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speak to reporters on his way to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on May 14, 2020 in Washington, DC.

At the White House, President Donald Trump said Bright looked like an “angry, disgruntled employee.”

I don’t know the so-called Whistleblower Rick Bright, never met him or even heard of him, but to me he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people I spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2020

Listen:

HHS Secretary Alex Azar, said, “Everything he [Dr. Bright] is complaining about was achieved.”

Azar also pushed back on Bright’s contention that he was fired for pushing back on the use of the malaria drug hydroxycloriquine to treat COVID-19, saying that Bright signed off on the order.