April 27, 2023

Dr. Rochelle Walensky

Director
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
395 E. Street, S.W., Suite 9100
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Dr. Walensky,

I write to you regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19
guidance, particularly with respect to testing, masks, and vaccine efficacy.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the American people were forced to follow the CDC
guidance, which changed multiple times with seemingly contradictory explanations. This led to
the public’s wide-spread confusion and distrust in the CDC, which was once held up as a leader
in public health.1

I understand the challenging nature of evaluating rapidly evolving scientific understanding and
then developing and disseminating best practices for our entire nation. While the CDC produced
some confusing and contradictory guidance, I have no doubt that your agency was working hard
to serve the American people. I write today in the interest of better understanding the CDC’s
operation and how to improve future outcomes.

For example, in August 2020 the CDC reversed course on its testing guidance. The CDC’s
original guidance advised Americans that anyone that came in close contact with infected
individuals, regardless of whether symptoms were exhibited, were encouraged to test for
COVID-19.2 This guidance was changed to state that people who have been exposed to infected
individuals were not encouraged to test for COVID-19 unless they exhibited symptoms.3

Another of the CDC’s changed guidances occurred with the agency’s masking recommendations.
In May 2021, the CDC stated that fully vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks in
most indoor and outdoor settings.4 A few months later, in July 2021, the CDC reversed course on
its previous guidance and recommended that fully vaccinated individuals wear masks indoors.

1
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/health/walensky-cdc-covid.html
2
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-reverses-covid-19-guidance-says-testing-may-not-be-n1238013
3
Id.
4
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/27/cdc-to-reverse-indoor-mask-policy-to-recommend-them-for-fully-vaccinated-
people-in-covid-hot-spots.html
The agency also recommended that kids returning to school that fall should wear masks
regardless of the consequences of forcing kids to wear masks in educational settings.5
Furthermore, in a May 2021 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, you stated: “Data
have demonstrated even if you were to get infected during post-vaccination, you can’t give it to
anyone else.”6 We now know this is not true. Your comments differ from the CDC’s website
which stated that vaccines “reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19” not that post-
vaccinated individuals “can’t” spread it. 7

Your claim at the hearing is unfounded since the CDC has yet to release any of the so-called data
the agency used in its decision making. In fact, an internal CDC review last year found that it
“takes too long for CDC to publish its data and science for decision making” and that you are
“committed to sharing scientific findings and data faster, than at the typical speed for academic
publication.”8

Considering this review and your newfound commitment to sharing data, the American people
should not have to wait any longer to receive answers regarding the CDC’s unclear and
contradictory guidance. As a result, I request your response to each question below by May 5th,
2023.

1. Please provide the data that was relied on to produce the guidance that all persons, even
asymptomatic, should get tested for Covid.
2. Please provide the data that was relied on to change that guidance to require testing only for
persons who showed symptoms after exposure.
3. Please provide the data that was relied on to produce the May 2021 guidance that fully
vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks indoors.
4. Please provide the data that was relied on to produce the subsequent change in guidance, in
July 2021, that fully vaccinated individuals should wear masks indoors.
5. Please provide the data you referred to in your May 2021 Senate Appropriations testimony,
where you stated that individuals who get infected post-vaccination “can’t give it to anyone
else”.
6. Please provide the data that was subsequently relied on to change the CDC’s position, as
now reflected on its website, that vaccination can “reduce the risk of people spreading
COVID-19”.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

5
Id.
6
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/review-of-the-fy2022-budget-blueprint-for-the-centers-for-
disease_control-and-prevention
7
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/21/politics/walensky-comments-cdc-guidance-fact-check/index.html
8
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cdc-covid-guidance-confusing-overwhelming-organization-overhaul/story?
id=88502792
Anna Paulina Luna Lauren Boebert
Member of Congress Member of Congress

Elijah Crane
Member of Congress