WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky following reports that the CDC spent tens of thousands of taxpayer funds for her to receive media coaching from Mandy Grunwald, a Democrat political consultant.

Read the full letter HERE or below.

August 31, 2022

Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., MPH

Director

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30329

Dear Director Walensky:

I write today regarding the concerning reports[1] that your agency frivolously spent tens of thousands of dollars of federal taxpayer funds for “media training and executive coaching” for you as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  As a member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I am seeking information, records and materials related to how such “media training and executive coaching” was procured, approved, conducted, and paid for by you and your agency. 

It is abundantly clear to the American people that President Biden and members of his administration will go to great lengths to mislead them about the state of our country and effectiveness of their polices. Americans know that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is lying when he says the southern border is closed. Families in Florida know that President Biden was lying when he said his raging inflation crisis would be “transitory” and that the war in Ukraine was solely responsible for record-high gas prices. These false narratives alone are unacceptable and insulting to the American people. Learning that you have chosen to stick taxpayers with a bill to be trained in ways to advance the administration’s radical agenda and mistruths adds insult to injury and must be answered for.

While we absolutely expect and require you and your agency to clearly and effectively communicate public health guidance, doing so should not require any special media training. This is especially true if we assume that your goal is to provide truthful, accurate, and complete information to the American people, and given that there is no shortage of resources available to you through the federal government, which come at no additional expense to the taxpayer. 

At a time when American families are suffering the disastrous consequences of President Biden’s reckless spending and repeated policy failures that have led to skyrocketing inflation, supply shortages of critical goods and continued uncertainty about public health concerns, we cannot and will not ignore that you have spent large sums of federal monies on partisan political consultants to improve your media image without any discernible benefit to the American taxpayer.  This is beyond shameful; it is wasteful, abusive federal spending directed to line the pockets of your political allies at the expense of hardworking Americans who deserve your accountability. 

Please respond to the following requests no later than September 23, 2022:

1. Regarding the training provided by Democrat political consultant Mandy Grunwald, please provide:
1. Copies of all records related to your agency’s procurement or selection of Grunwald’s services, including—

                                                              i.      How such services were identified, selected, and procured by you and your agency;

                                                            ii.      The scope of services to be provided by Grunwald;

                                                         iii.      The intended recipients and/or attendees of Grunwald’s training;

                                                         iv.      The total cost paid for such services, up to the date of this letter; and

                                                            v.      Whether other individuals, organizations, or providers were considered or solicited to perform media training services for you and your agency;

2. Copies of all training materials used and/or presented by Grunwald during the training provided to you and your agency;
3. The dates and times of all training services provided by Grunwald, including the names of all attendees of each training; and
4. Copies of all written communications, including electronic mail, text messages, and internet messages, between Grunwald and any officer or employee of the CDC;
1. Regarding the training provided by Tim Sullivan and Wellesley Partners, please provide:

1. Copies of all records related to your agency’s procurement or selection of services by Sullivan/ Wellesley Partners, including—

                                                              i.      How such services were identified, selected, and procured by you and your agency;

                                                            ii.      The scope of services to be provided by Sullivan/ Wellesley Partners;

                                                         iii.      The intended recipients and/or attendees of such trainings;

                                                         iv.      The total cost paid for such services, up to the date of this letter; and

                                                            v.      Whether other individuals, organizations, or providers were considered or solicited to perform “executive coaching” services for you and your agency;

2. Copies of all training materials used and/or presented by Sullivan/ Wellesley Partners during the training provided to you and your agency;
3. The dates and times of all training services provided by Sullivan/ Wellesley Partners, including the names of all attendees of each training; and
4. Copies of all written communications, including electronic mail, text messages, and internet messages, between Sullivan/ Wellesley Partners and any officer or employee of the CDC.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this request, and await your responsive reply no later than September 23, 2022. 

Sincerely,

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