U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials spent more than $500 million that Congress set aside for developing vaccines on office moving expenses, administrative costs, news media subscriptions, lawyers, and salaries, according to a letter that was made public by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).
Beginning in 2009 under President Barack Obama and continuing through 2019, HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) misused funds appropriated by Congress for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) so frequently that it became known informally as the “Bank of BARDA,” according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
