Dr. Rick Bright of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority Files Whistleblower Complaint

Philadelphia — Today, as the federal government continues to delay expanding access to coronavirus testing amid goals to slowly re-open the country, President Trump reassigned Dr. Rick Bright, the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. In a whistleblower complaint, Dr. Bright says that he was retaliated against for criticizing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as coronavirus treatments, while President Trump has doubled down on the drugs’ potential.

In a statement, Dr. Bright says that he “limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit.” He also describes his attempts to combat “efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections.”

Any evidence to suggest that these drugs would be helpful in treating the coronavirus has been murky at best. Earlier this month, the CDC website walked back guidance on hydroxychloroquine based on research, and a study of chloroquine was put on hold because of worries for people with heart issues.