Trump administration pressures FDA to allow unproven COVID treatments

Trump officials have reportedly been working to re-approve hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID. Despite the FDA providing evidence that the drug is ineffective and has potentially severe side effects.

The Trump administration has pressured the Food and Drug Administration to approve the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. According to a new report by Democrats via the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.

The report released Wednesday detailed efforts by Trump officials to re-approve hydroxychloroquine. After the FDA withdrew its emergency use approval over evidence. It was not effective in treating COVID and had potentially serious side effects.

The findings also report that Trump officials blocked the FDA from issuing approvals for COVID vaccine guidelines to ensure the first vaccine can be approved before the 2020 presidential election.

“The finding from an elected subcommittee that Trump White House officials have deliberately and repeatedly sought to direct the FDA’s scientific work on coronavirus treatments. And vaccines in the direction of White House politics is another example of how the previous administration prioritize politics over public health,” Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.), chair of the panel, said in a statement.

“This attack on our country’s public health facilities has undermined the country’s response to the coronavirus,” he added. In March 2020, Trump touted hydroxychloroquine as an effective treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite concerns from health experts, including Food and Drug Administrator Stephen Hahn. Who stressed that it should undergo testing to see if it works against the virus.

The World Health Organization also suspended clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine. After several studies found higher mortality rates in patients taking the drug. Research also shows that drug abuse can lead to heart failure.