Pence: Coronavirus Task Force Could Dissolve Within Weeks, Cites ‘Tremendous Progress’

TOPLINE

Vice President Mike Pence confirmed Tuesday that the coronavirus task force could wind down within weeks, but it’s unclear if the task force will be replaced, potentially leaving a vacuum in a centralized, national response to COVID-19 even as the country faces increasing numbers of fatalities due to the disease.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

“I think we’re starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage—begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner,” Pence told reporters.

Big numbers

3,000 daily deaths. That’s how many American COVID-19 fatalities could happen every day by June, according to an internal Trump administration forecast the Times first obtained Monday.

Key background

The possible wind down comes five days after federal social distancing guidelines issued by the task force expired. The task force was initially headed up (and reportedly mired in internal drama and early missteps) by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar before President Trump appointed Pence to the top role in February. The daily task force briefings in March and April became something of a showcase for Trump, often running for over an hour while he would defend his response to the pandemic. The briefings seemed to taper off after Trump received blistering criticism for suggesting coronavirus patients could, as treatments, inject themselves with disinfectants or ultraviolet light.

Further reading

The White House is considering winding down the coronavirus task force in the coming weeks (New York Times)

Trump Plays Campaign-Style Video Defending His Coronavirus Response At Press Briefing (Forbes)

Trump Ends Briefing Early After Day Of Scorching Criticism (Forbes)

Report: Internal Trump Administration Coronavirus Model Predicts 3,000 Daily Deaths By June (Forbes)

Political drama engulfs the Trump administration’s coronavirus response (Axios)

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