Frist Things Frist: It's Time for a Coronavirus Commission
Nearly 20 Months Ago, I Proposed a National Coronavirus Commission Led by Former US Senate Majority Leader and Dr. Bill Frist. The Time is Now. Here's How
Not long after the coronavirus and COVID-19 bloomed around the globe, I wrote an op-ed for my then-local Philly suburban newspaper, the Delco Times, calling on President Trump to establish a presidential commission to independently (as possible) investigate our national response to the pandemic.
I further proposed that he entice former US Senate Majority Leader and renowned heart-lung transplant surgeon Dr. Bill Frist (R-TN) to lead it with complete autonomy. Elected in 1994, Frist retired from politics in 2006 and returned to Nashville and various health pursuits after two eventful terms and a stint as the Senate’s GOP leader. Sen. Mitch McConnell succeeded Frist.
Trump should give Dr. Frist authority to acquire whatever resources, including staff, he needs from any federal agency, including HHS, State, FEMA, FDA, CDC, NIH, CIA and DOD, others as needed. And let him and his family move into Blair House, part of the White House complex – usually reserved for visiting heads of state, or the president-elect during transitions – for the duration. That will send quite the signal.
Oh, there’s more: Direct Dr. Frist to build a national committee of local and state public health experts, epidemiologists, and others to solicit input and ideas to craft a true public-private national health network that builds on, but doesn’t replace, our magnificent systems. Leave politicians out of it, but feel free to have him consult governors on their own decision-making process. Fortunately, Dr. Frist is already part of a national and international network of medical professionals and public policy experts.
I proposed it after two of the US House’s most partisan actors, US Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jerome Nadler (D-NY) introduced legislation of their own to establish a commission. Their motivations were partisan, and to borrow a phrase, both are socially distant from the truth and lack any resemblance of credibility.
With the benefit of hindsight, it was way early and overly ambitious to promote the idea of a presidential commission during a highly-charged election year. But it might have helped dispel several misleading and partisan narratives spread by malign media.
But now is the time. With reality finally seeping in that the virus is here to stay; new therapeutics; a new variant that doesn’t seem to send many people to hospitals; and recognition that the “pandemic” is turning into an “endemic,” it’s time for the forensics. It would have more credibility if a Democratic President were to recruit Frist to run the commission free of partisan political interference (if that’s possible).
The mission: analyze the entire federal and state response, identify shortcomings and successes, and lay the groundwork for the next pandemic, from health care capacity to pharmaceutical and therapeutic response and economic recovery.
And including an honest cost-benefit analysis, from lockdowns and school closures to economic stimulus payments. Every state’s strategy should be looked at closely, from South Dakota’s “hands-off” approach to severe lockdowns in states like Michigan and New York. A serious investigation into nursing home deaths is warranted. No policy, no decision should be off-limits. And what about the national stockpile? It was built during President George W. Bush’s final years and was depleted quickly in 2009 when SARS broke out. It was never replenished. Why not? We all have much to learn, and these are just a few areas that need work. Are our federal and state governments well organized, staffed, and agile enough to respond effectively to the next pandemic?
I would add a serious investigation into both government and media communications. There’s no doubt that government officials have repeatedly botched communications on everything from vaccines to masks. And don’t leave out social media’s disastrous censorship, including Facebook and Twitter. Do we need a better medical communications infrastructure? This must include efforts by Drs. Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci to silence and discredit scientists who, frankly, turned out to be wiser than government officials.
Frist (or whoever runs the commission) should have full autonomy to select (that is, “recommend” for presidential appointments) independent commissioners that the President would agree to appoint. Those with policymaking or executive responsibilities for the pandemic response, state or federal, should be disqualified - this needs to be an independent investigation and evaluation. And Frist, if he took the job, would smartly and quickly threaten to resign at the first hint of political interference. He may have to do that a lot. After all, Frist is doing outstanding work elsewhere with minimal, if any, political interference.
Frist might ask Biden to select a specific co-chair, such as former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), who while not a doctor does have expertise on health policy from his perch at the Bipartisan Policy Center and was nominated by President Obama to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services (he withdrew). Both are serious policymakers who have long retired the partisan battle swords and know and trust each other. Both are whip-smart, highly respected, collegial, politically astute, and connected nationally and internationally.
No aspect of the pandemic would be off-limits. Frist and his co-chair should be free to select staff, again, with no interference from the White House other than cursory background checks. Access to classified information should be granted where appropriate, especially the chair and co-chair, along with other commissioners and key investigatory staff. The largely successful 9/11 Commission would be a good model; former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean Sr. and ex-US Rep. Lee Hamilton were superb bipartisan co-chairs and featured an excellent and seasoned professional staff. Unlike the 9/11 Commission, an act of Congress should not be necessary and avoided if possible. Admittedly, it may be unavoidable, but that invites unwelcome political meddling, especially from House Democrats. Congress is hardly as unified after COVID-19 as we were, however briefly, after 9/11.
Organizing the commission’s various components will take serious thought and time. There are some obvious areas of focus; the origins of the virus and both China’s and the WHO’s early actions. The US's initial “fog of war” responses, including the abject failures of the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration to approve early tests for the virus. Operation “Warp Speed,” what worked and didn’t.
And unlike my initial recommendation, the deadline should be long to prevent anyone from playing prevent defense or running out the clock. January 20, 2025, as a deadline, would be fine.
Are there other strong candidates to run such a commission besides Frist, with or without Daschle? Maybe, but I don’t know anyone with the automatic authority, credibility, and capacity to lead such an effort. Senior statespersons who are also experts with no axes to grind or personal agendas are in short supply.
It’s time to get started while our memories and experiences are still fresh. And not too much evidence has been destroyed.