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Fact Check: Trump's bogus effort to blame Obama for sluggish coronavirus testing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/06/trumps-bogus-effort-blame-obama-sluggish-coronavirus-testing/
By Glenn Kessler
March 6, 2020 at 3:00 a.m. EST
“The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we’re doing. And we undid that decision a few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate and rapid fashion. That was a decision we disagreed with. I don’t think we would have made it, but for some reason it was made. But we’ve undone that decision.”
— President Trump, remarks at a roundtable with airline executives, March 4
“This was a very big move. It was something that we had to do and we did it very quickly. And now we have tremendous flexibility. Many, many more sites. Many, many more people. And you couldn’t have had that under the Obama rule, and we ended that rule very quickly.”
— Trump, additional remarks at the same meeting
When things get tough in the Trump administration, the president has a default position — blame Barack Obama.
The Facts
This is a fact check that turns out to be about a complex and technical issue that had attracted little attention outside trade press and a small community of experts. But the quick answer is there was no Obama rule, simply “guidance" that was never acted on because Congress stepped in and decided it would craft the necessary legislation, according to experts we consulted. The Trump administration, in fact, has been working with Congress on such legislation.
The question revolves around something called laboratory developed tests (LDTs). These are generally described as in vitro (such as in a test tube) diagnostic tests designed, manufactured and used within a single laboratory. The Food and Drug Administration, under a 1976 law, regulates medical devices, but generally did not regulate LDTs even though it claimed the authority to do so.
</snip>
By Glenn Kessler
March 6, 2020 at 3:00 a.m. EST
“The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we’re doing. And we undid that decision a few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate and rapid fashion. That was a decision we disagreed with. I don’t think we would have made it, but for some reason it was made. But we’ve undone that decision.”
— President Trump, remarks at a roundtable with airline executives, March 4
“This was a very big move. It was something that we had to do and we did it very quickly. And now we have tremendous flexibility. Many, many more sites. Many, many more people. And you couldn’t have had that under the Obama rule, and we ended that rule very quickly.”
— Trump, additional remarks at the same meeting
When things get tough in the Trump administration, the president has a default position — blame Barack Obama.
The Facts
This is a fact check that turns out to be about a complex and technical issue that had attracted little attention outside trade press and a small community of experts. But the quick answer is there was no Obama rule, simply “guidance" that was never acted on because Congress stepped in and decided it would craft the necessary legislation, according to experts we consulted. The Trump administration, in fact, has been working with Congress on such legislation.
The question revolves around something called laboratory developed tests (LDTs). These are generally described as in vitro (such as in a test tube) diagnostic tests designed, manufactured and used within a single laboratory. The Food and Drug Administration, under a 1976 law, regulates medical devices, but generally did not regulate LDTs even though it claimed the authority to do so.
</snip>
I'm glad this is being pointed out!
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
