A comprehensive two-year investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic, conducted by the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, has culminated in a landmark final report. Titled “After Action Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned And a Path Forward,” this extensive 520-page document serves as a critical roadmap for the U.S. Congress, the Executive Branch, and the private sector. Its aim is to enhance preparedness and response strategies for future pandemics by meticulously examining the events, decisions, and outcomes of the recent global health crisis. The report is the result of an exhaustive inquiry, initiated in February 2023, which included over 100 investigative letters, more than 30 transcribed interviews and depositions, 25 hearings and meetings, and the review of over one million pages of documents. This rigorous process has enabled the Select Subcommittee to uncover significant issues within America’s public health infrastructure, affirm the most probable origins of the pandemic, ensure accountability for those who acted improperly during the crisis, and build bipartisan agreement on crucial pandemic-related matters.
Chairman Wenstrup, in his letter to Congress, emphasized the report’s significance, stating, “This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic.” He urged the 119th Congress to continue and expand upon this vital work, stressing the importance of accountability, transparency, honesty, and integrity in regaining public trust eroded during the pandemic. The Chairman underscored that an effective response to future pandemics necessitates a unified national effort, guided by leaders free from personal bias or gain, and committed to continuous improvement for the well-being of future generations. The Select Subcommittee officially submitted the final report to the Congressional record on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, following a markup of the document.
Unveiling the Origins of the Pandemic: Lessons Learned Regarding Research and Oversight
A central focus of the report is the origin of COVID-19. The Select Subcommittee’s investigation concludes that the most likely origin is a laboratory in Wuhan, China. This conclusion is supported by five key arguments: the virus’s unique biological characteristics atypical of naturally occurring viruses, the emergence of all known COVID-19 cases from a single point of introduction into humans (unlike previous pandemics with multiple spillover events), the presence of China’s leading SARS research laboratory in Wuhan with a known history of gain-of-function research conducted at inadequate biosafety levels, reports of Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers experiencing COVID-like illnesses in the fall of 2019 (prior to the officially recognized pandemic outbreak), and the absence of conclusive evidence supporting a natural origin despite extensive scientific investigation.
The report also scrutinizes the “Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2” publication, revealing it was prompted by Dr. Fauci to promote the natural origin theory and downplay the lab leak hypothesis. Furthermore, the investigation highlights gain-of-function research as a likely origin point and criticizes the current governmental oversight mechanisms as “incomplete, severely convoluted, and lack[ing] global applicability.” The role of EcoHealth Alliance Inc. (EcoHealth), led by Dr. Peter Daszak, is brought into question for its use of U.S. taxpayer funds to facilitate risky gain-of-function research in Wuhan. Following the Select Subcommittee’s evidence of EcoHealth’s grant violations, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiated debarment proceedings and suspended all funding to EcoHealth. The report also notes a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into EcoHealth’s pandemic-era activities. Significant failures within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are also detailed, citing deficient procedures for funding and overseeing potentially dangerous research, fostering an environment that circumvented federal record-keeping laws, as exemplified by Dr. David Morens and Marge Moore.
Fiscal Accountability and Relief Program Effectiveness: Lessons in Preventing Waste and Fraud
The report addresses the efficacy, effectiveness, and transparency of taxpayer funds allocated to address the pandemic. A key finding is the significant lapses in coordination between federal and state governments, coupled with unpreparedness in overseeing COVID-19 relief fund allocation. This resulted in insufficient identification and prevention of waste, fraud, and abuse. The Paycheck Protection Program, intended to provide vital relief to Americans, suffered from widespread fraudulent claims, leading to an estimated loss of at least $64 billion in taxpayer dollars to fraudsters and criminals. Fraudulent unemployment claims further exacerbated financial losses, costing American taxpayers over $191 billion. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is criticized for its inadequate oversight, internal controls, and fraud protection measures, resulting in $200 million in lost taxpayer funds. Alarmingly, at least half of the taxpayer dollars lost in COVID-19 relief programs were stolen by international fraudsters, highlighting the vulnerability of expanded relief programs lacking robust oversight. These findings underscore critical lessons learned about the necessity for stringent oversight and robust fraud prevention measures in large-scale relief programs to safeguard taxpayer funds and ensure aid reaches those in genuine need.
Evaluating Federal Law and Regulation Implementation: Lessons for Public Health Measures
The Select Subcommittee’s report assesses the implementation and effectiveness of federal laws and regulations enacted to address the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) receives strong criticism for its response, deemed an “abject failure” due to its deference to the Chinese Communist Party and prioritization of China’s political interests over its international duties. Concerns are raised about the WHO’s “Pandemic Treaty,” suggesting it may be detrimental to the United States. The report also challenges several public health measures implemented during the pandemic. The “6 feet apart” social distancing recommendation is described as arbitrary and not science-based, with Dr. Fauci admitting it “sort of just appeared” during closed-door testimony. Similarly, the effectiveness of mask mandates in protecting the public is questioned, citing a lack of conclusive evidence and inconsistent messaging from public health officials that eroded public trust. Prolonged lockdowns are condemned for causing “immeasurable harm” to the American economy and the mental and physical health of Americans, particularly younger citizens. New York’s pandemic response, specifically former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s March 25 Order forcing nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients, is labeled “medical malpractice.” Evidence suggests a cover-up by Mr. Cuomo and his administration to conceal the policy’s tragic consequences, leading to a referral to the DOJ for criminal prosecution. In contrast, President Trump’s swift implementation of travel restrictions is recognized as life-saving, with Dr. Fauci agreeing with their effectiveness, contradicting the narrative that they were xenophobic. The report also addresses the issue of COVID-19 misinformation, pointing out that public health officials themselves contributed to it through conflicting messaging, knee-jerk reactions, and a lack of transparency. The demonization of off-label drug use and the lab leak theory, along with the Biden Administration’s pressure on social media companies to censor certain COVID-19 content, are highlighted as egregious examples of misinformation campaigns and potential overreach.
Vaccine and Treatment Development and Policies: Lessons in Rapid Response and Public Trust
The report examines the development of vaccines and treatments, and the implementation of vaccination policies. Operation Warp Speed, initiated under President Trump, is lauded as “highly successful” in rapidly developing and authorizing the COVID-19 vaccine, credited with saving millions of lives. However, the report points out that the COVID-19 vaccine, contrary to initial promises, did not prevent the spread or transmission of the virus. The FDA’s rushed approval of the vaccine to meet the Biden Administration’s mandate timeline is criticized, with concerns raised about ignored warnings from FDA scientists regarding the speed of approval and potential adverse events. Vaccine mandates are deemed “not supported by science” and causing “more harm than good,” citing coercion of healthy Americans, infringement on individual freedoms, harm to military readiness, and disregard for medical freedom. The report also highlights the coordinated effort by public health officials to ignore natural immunity when developing vaccine guidance and mandates. The vaccine injury reporting systems are criticized for causing confusion, failing to adequately inform the public about vaccine injuries, and eroding public trust in vaccine safety. Furthermore, the government’s inefficient, unfair, and non-transparent adjudication of claims for COVID-19 vaccine injuries is noted as a significant failing.
Economic and Societal Impacts: Lessons for Mitigation and Support
The economic and societal impacts of the pandemic and government responses are also thoroughly investigated. Mandatory lockdowns imposed by federal and state governments are identified as the primary cause of temporary and permanent business closures, with over 160,000 businesses closing, 60% permanently. Supply chain disruptions exacerbated pandemic-era challenges. The American healthcare system suffered significantly, with decreased quality of care, longer wait times, shorter appointments, and missed diagnoses. Unemployment rates surged to levels unseen since the Great Depression, disproportionately impacting low-wage earners due to overly broad mitigation measures like the “6 feet apart” guidance. While the Federal Reserve’s aggressive early response prevented a severe economic downturn, its continued approach contributed to significant inflation.
The report also addresses the devastating societal impact of school closures. Prolonged school closures are deemed unjustified by science, as children were unlikely to spread the virus or suffer severe illness. Instead, closures resulted in historic learning loss, increased psychological distress, and decreased physical well-being among children. The CDC is criticized for allowing political influence from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in its school reopening guidance. Testimony revealed direct communication between AFT President Weingarten and former CDC Director Walensky, and that the CDC accepted edits from the AFT. The report concludes that AFT’s political interference prolonged school closures, advocating for mitigation efforts like automatic closure triggers. Standardized test scores reveal decades of lost academic progress, and mental health concerns skyrocketed, with suicide attempts by 12-17 year-old girls increasing by 51%.
Executive Branch Cooperation and Obstruction: Lessons in Transparency and Accountability
Finally, the report examines the cooperation of the Executive Branch with oversight bodies. The Biden Administration’s HHS is accused of a “multi-year campaign of delay, confusion, and non-responsiveness” to obstruct the Select Subcommittee’s investigation, potentially to conceal incriminating evidence. EcoHealth President Dr. Peter Daszak is cited for obstructing the investigation by providing public information, limiting staff cooperation, and doctoring documents, and for providing false statements to Congress. Dr. David Morens, Dr. Fauci’s Senior Advisor, is accused of deliberately obstructing the investigation, likely lying to Congress, unlawfully deleting federal records, and sharing nonpublic information with Dr. Daszak. New York’s Executive Chamber, under Governor Kathy Hochul, is also accused of obstruction through document redactions, illegitimate privilege claims, and withholding thousands of documents related to former Governor Cuomo’s pandemic failures.
Conclusion: Charting a Path Forward Based on Lessons Learned
The Select Subcommittee’s final report provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic response in the United States. The lessons learned are multifaceted, spanning from the crucial need for transparent and rigorous scientific inquiry into pandemic origins, to the imperative of robust oversight and accountability in public health agencies and relief programs. The report underscores the importance of evidence-based public health policies, clear and consistent communication, and the need to balance public health measures with individual liberties and economic stability. Moving forward, the report serves as an essential guide for policymakers, public health officials, and the American public to better prepare for and respond to future pandemics, ensuring a more effective, equitable, and trustworthy response to global health crises.
