GET THE FACTS: “Deep Concerns” from Democrats Still Go Unanswered from Becerra

SAN FRANCISCO — During tonight’s gubernatorial debate, questions were raised about Xavier Becerra’s 36-year record as a career politician, and his tenure as Health and Human Services Secretary.

“Xavier Becerra was in charge during three of our nation’s most severe health crises and yet he was consistently missing, ineffective, or slow to respond.” Steyer for Governor spokesperson Ariana Andrade said. “Public health experts, cabinet secretaries, and even Congressional Democrats have criticized Becerra for shying away when his leadership was needed the most – and it was the vulnerable who paid the price.”

As HHS Secretary, Becerra was often absent from White House COVID-19 briefings and planning. When Monkeypox emerged, he delayed declaring a public health emergency until daily cases reached the hundreds. He similarly waited until 10 days after the first American bird flu death to approve vaccine funding, effectively passing the crisis to the RFK Jr. and Trump administrations.

THE FACTS

Becerra Was Often Absent From Decision-Making Calls Planning COVID-19 Rollouts. According to Politico, “When Biden’s senior health officials gathered one Sunday in August to make the high-stakes decision that all adults should get Covid-19 booster shots, Becerra wasn’t included on the call.” [Politico, 9/21/21]

Multiple Former Health Secretaries Described Becerra As “Invisible” In The Agency. According to NBC News, “Conversations with six former senior health policy officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations, as well as three people closely familiar with the agency’s activities, reveal that they are mystified about why Becerra’s leadership has been, as several of them put it, ‘invisible.’” [NBC News, 12/10/21]

Experts Believed That Becerra’s Delay In Securing More Vaccines Would Make It Near Impossible To Prevent A Monkeypox Pandemic. According to Politico, “Despite touting initial efforts to secure more vaccines, Becerra’s department moved too slowly to ensure millions more doses it already owned could be quickly prepared for distribution. A search for alternative manufacturers remains in progress. Nearly three months after the first U.S. monkeypox case, there are now nearly 11,000 reported cases and climbing. Health experts fear the window for limiting the disease’s spread is closing fast.” [Politico, 8/12/22]

In December 2024, Becerra’s HHS Planned To Leave Any Mass Human Vaccine Response To The Incoming Anti-Vax Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. According to NBC News, “Biden administration officials said Wednesday they have no current plans to authorize a stockpiled bird flu vaccine, despite an escalating outbreak among livestock in the U.S. and at least 58 human infections across seven states. The move means any decisions about a bird flu vaccine will likely be left to health officials in the incoming Trump administration, who may be led by anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom Trump has picked to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.” [NBC News, 12/11/24]

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