Whitmer, Cuomo Want Inquiry Into Trump's Coronavirus Response
MICHIGAN — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday called for a Congressional oversight investigation into what they called the Trump administration's politicization of government functions that have impeded the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The two Democratic governors released joint statements on Thursday announcing their request for the investigation while also criticizing President Donald Trump, saying that is is "an inarguable fact that the United States has had the worst response to the COVID-19 virus."
"The unprecedented and unacceptable scale of this tragedy is the direct result of President Trump and the federal government's deceit, political self-dealing, and incompetence," the two governors said in a joint statement.
“Rather than turning to the advice and direction of public health experts and career public servants, President Trump instead put the health and security of the American people in the hands of political appointees whose first priority was securing the reelection of their benefactor, with predictably tragic results," the statement continues.
Trump's response to the virus has been heavily criticized by Democratic figures. The U.S. currently leads the world with over 7.1 million cases and nearly 207,000 deaths as of Thursday morning, according to data provided by the World Health Organization.
Michigan ranks 17th in the U.S. in reported coronavirus cases. It is ninth in coronavirus deaths. New York is fourth in COVID-19 cases. It leads the nation in coronavirus deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Among issues criticized by the two governors are the White House's decision to block a Department of Health and Human Services plan to utilize the U.S. Postal Service to ship five face masks to every household in the country, free of charge, in April.
Related: Whitmer Criticizes Trump For Not Sending Masks To Every U.S. Home
That decision by the White House came to light after the USPS released thousands of documents that showed some officials hoped to use the USPS network to help Americans get personal protective equipment with a plan to send a pack of five reusable face masks to every residential address in the U.S.
The hardest-hit areas in the nation would be shipped to first. Wayne County was among those, along with the Orleans and Jefferson parishes in Louisiana, King County, Washington, and New York.
But the plan was scrapped, according to The Washington Post, due to a concern sending masks would cause mass concern or panic.
"Imagine the lives that could have been saved if every household were provided masks at such a crucial time," the statement said.
Other issues addressed by the governor included how last week political appointees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said people without symptoms did not need to get tested for the coronavirus.
Trump's inclusion in Bob Woodworth's new book, which claims that Trump knew of the dangers of the coronavirus long before he let on, was also mentioned by Whitmer and Cuomo.
“As a country, we cannot allow this type of politically-motivated decision making to take root," their statement said. "Logic dictates that COVID won’t be the last public health challenge we will face, and we can’t afford to again respond by playing politics, instead of listening to the science and facts.
"Our future health and economic security depends on holding the Trump administration accountable today.”
This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch
