Whistleblower scientist settles complaint over Trump COVID-19 response

A former leading government scientist who says he was ousted from his job by the Trump administration has settled his whistleblower complaint against the federal government.

Rick Bright led the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority until he was removed in April 2020.

Bright filed a whistleblower complaint alleging the Trump administration prioritized politics above science, and claimed his efforts to push back on the use of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat the coronavirus contributed to his removal.

According to the complaint, Bright pressed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) about the threat of the virus and the urgent need to act, but “encountered indifference which then developed into hostility from HHS leadership.”

While Bright was pressing HHS officials to provide necessary resources to begin vaccine, drug and diagnostic development to combat COVID-19, he alleged former HHS Secretary Alex Azar was instead focused on downplaying the threat of the virus.