US main health agency failing to lead response to public crises
January 29, 2022, 5:25 pm

US main health agency failing to lead response to public crises

USA-America-San Francisco-California/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported, according to the Associated Press, U.S. federal watchdog has indicated that the U.S. government's main health agency is failing to fulfill its duties for leading the U.S. national response to public health crises.

The AP said in a report on Thursday, citing the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) "is failing to meet its responsibilities for leading the national response to public health emergencies including the coronavirus pandemic, extreme weather disasters and even potential bioterrorist attacks."

USA imposes sanctions on 3 Lebanese businessmen with ties to Hezbollah

The Xinhua said, according to the AP, the office, an independent, non-partisan agency that works for the U.S. Congress, is designating the HHS' leadership and coordination of public health emergencies as a "high risk" area for the U.S. government.

Small businesses in USA 'besieged' amid Omicron surge

According to the AP, the move, though bringing no immediate penalties, highlights the need for Congress to pay special attention to the HHS' operations.

Source: xinhua

Turkish President threatens media with reprisals if they damage core values US official to visit Lithuania to support Baltic nation over Chinese ‘coercion’

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.