Filings show all but five political donations from CDC employees since 2015 have gone to Democrats
The majority of political contributions made by employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2015 have gone to Democratic candidates or causes, federal election records show.
Donors who list the CDC as their employer have made more than 8,000 contributions totaling over $285,000 to various political campaigns or organizations. An analysis by the Daily Caller News Foundation found only five contributions were sent to a Republican political action committee or candidate, totaling just over $1,000. Only three people donated to President Trump's 2016 campaign.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Trump has been sharply critical of the CDC, casting doubt on the data the agency keeps about the outbreak and publicly breaking with guidelines it set forth for reopening schools in the fall.
"I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things," Trump tweeted on July 8. "I will be meeting with them!!!"
"In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS," Trump also said. "The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!"
Advocates for reopening schools fully for in-person learning five days a week have cited a recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which lists a number of risks related to keeping students home instead.
"The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020," the organization said in recent guidance it issued late last month. "Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease doctor, said local governments should adhere to public health guidelines as they prepare to reopen.
"The basic fundamental goal would be as you possibly can to get the children back to school and use the public health efforts as a tool to help the children get back to school," Fauci said during a hearing before Congress on June 30.
After Trump criticized the CDC guidelines for reopening schools, Dr. Robert Redfield said last week he has no plans to change them.
“Our guidelines are our guidelines," he said. "It’s really important. It’s not a revision of the guidelines. It’s just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance that we put forward.”
Rep. Bobby Scott, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said the White House is blocking all CDC officials, including Redfield, from testifying before his panel.
