4/2/2020 Mail - Dylan Winters - Outlook From: "Ricker, Monique T. EOP/USTR" Date: Monday, March 30, 2020 at 10:47 AM To: FOIA , FN-USTR-FOIA Subject: [Ext]RE: FOIA Request (MULTI-20-0410-0415) Ms. Monahan, This email is the final response of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) No. FY20-83 submitted on March 3, 2020 requesting all final directives, orders, decision memoranda, or guidance from President Trump, Vice President Pence, or any EOP staff regarding public statements or appearances, website updates or changes, or communications or press strategy on the coronavirus, COVID-19 since January 30, 2020.  On March 10, 2020, we received a similar request for guidance from HHS leadership which we aggregated. USTR conducted an eDiscovery search of US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Director of Scheduling Jaclyn Knight, Chief of Staff Jamieson Greer, Senior Directors for Policy Haley Dorval and Dereck Chapman, Deputy Chief of Staff and White House Liaison Kevin Garvey Assistant USTR for Public & Media Affairs Jeff Emerson, Sr. Digital Coordinator & Communications Assistant Morgan Cleary, and Assistant USTR for Administration Fred Ames.  These individuals comprise USTR’s head office, office of public affairs, and coronavirus task force points of contact. Attached please find 11 responsive pages which we are releasing in part.  We withheld non-public contact information because we reasonably foresee that disclosure would harm an interest protected by FOIA Exemption 6, which protects personal information the release of which would not shed light on the performance of the agency's statutory duties. This constitutes a complete response to your request.  You may contact me or my colleague Janice Kaye by email at FOIA@ustr.eop.gov or 202-395-3419 for any further assistance and to discuss any aspect of your request.  Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, email at ogis@nara.gov; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-7415769. https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGJmZjIxNGNhLTM3ZDAtNDFkNy1hZjNjLTVhN2Y1ODc1NWFkNAAQAMAaoWo0O1FDvbEkH5%2B8UR… 1/6 4/2/2020 Mail - Dylan Winters - Outlook   If you are not satisfied with the response to this request, you may also administratively appeal by writing to: FOIA Office, GSD/RDF; ATTN: Janice Kaye, Anacostia Naval Annex, Bldg. 410/Door 123, 250 Murray Lane, S.W., Washington, D.C.  20509.   Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of the response to your request.  Both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked:  “Freedom of Information Act Appeal" and should include a reference to the FOIA Case File number listed above.   Heightened security in force may delay mail delivery; therefore we suggest that you also email any such appeal to foia@ustr.eop.gov.    In the event you are dissatisfied with the results of any such appeal, judicial review will thereafter be available to you in the United States District Court for the judicial district in which you reside or have your principal place of business, or in the District of Columbia, where we searched for the records you requested.   Thank you, Monique      Monique T. Ricker FOIA Program Manager/Attorney   EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE WASHINGTON DC 20508     From: FOIA Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2020 5:19 PM To: FOIARequest@hhs.gov; foia@niaid.nih.gov; FOIARequests@cdc.gov; FN-USTR-FOIA Subject: [EXTERNAL] FOIA Request (MULTI-20-0410-0415) Dear FOIA Officer: Please find attached (and in the body of this email) a request for records under the Freedom of Information Act. Sincerely,    Mariuxi Pintado Paralegal American Oversight foia@americanoversight.org  >www.americanoversight.org<   @weareoversight   FOIA: MULTI-20-0410-0415 March 3, 2020   VIA EMAIL AND FACSMILE   Michael Marquis Freedom of Information Officer Freedom of Information Officer U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGJmZjIxNGNhLTM3ZDAtNDFkNy1hZjNjLTVhN2Y1ODc1NWFkNAAQAMAaoWo0O1FDvbEkH5%2B8UR… 2/6 4/2/2020 Mail - Dylan Winters - Outlook Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 729H 200 Independence Avenue SW Washington, DC 20201 FOIARequest@hhs.gov   Robin Schofield National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Room 6G51 5601 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20892 foia@niaid.nih.gov Information Disclosure Section Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 20th & Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20551 Facsimile: (202) 872-7565 1600 Clifton Road NE Building 57, Room MS D-54 Atlanta, GA 30333 FOIARequests@cdc.gov   USTR FOIA Office, GSD/RDF Attn: Chief FOIA Officer Janice Kaye Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Anacostia Naval Annex, Building 410/Door 123, 250 Murray Lane SW Washington, DC 20509 FOIA@ustr.eop.gov Sarah Kotler Freedom of Information Officer Food and Drug Administration 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1035 Rockville, MD 20857 Facsimile: (301) 827-9267   Re: Simple Track Freedom of Information Act Request   Dear FOIA Officers:   Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. § 552, and the implementing regulations of your agency, American Oversight makes the following request for records.   Requested Records   American Oversight requests that your agency produce the following records within twenty business days:     All final directives, orders, decision memoranda, or guidance provided by HHS leadership—both by the Office of the Secretary and the head offices of HHS components, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—regarding public statements, public appearances, website changes or updates, or communications or press strategy on the coronavirus, COVID-19. This request includes but is not limited to any final directives, orders, decision memoranda, or guidance originating within HHS or components that were sent to other agencies on this topic.   At a minimum, a search for responsive records should include a search of the files of your agencies’ head office, office of public affairs, and anyone serving as an agency point of contact for the coronavirus task force.   As this request is limited to final directives, orders, decision memoranda, or guidance from a recent, short period of time concerning a narrow range of high-profile subject matters, American Oversight expects that this request can be assigned to a Simple processing track and should result in an expeditious agency response.   Please provide all responsive records from January 30, 2020, through to the date of the search.   Fee Waiver Request   In accordance with 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii) and your agency’s regulations, American Oversight requests a waiver of fees associated with processing this request for records. The subject of this request concerns the operations of the federal https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGJmZjIxNGNhLTM3ZDAtNDFkNy1hZjNjLTVhN2Y1ODc1NWFkNAAQAMAaoWo0O1FDvbEkH5%2B8UR… 3/6 4/2/2020 Mail - Dylan Winters - Outlook government, and the disclosures will likely contribute to a better understanding of relevant government procedures by the general public in a significant way. Moreover, the request is primarily and fundamentally for non-commercial purposes.   American Oversight requests a waiver of fees because disclosure of the requested information is “in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of operations or activities of the government.”[1] The public has a significant interest in the federal government’s response to the coronavirus. Records with the potential to shed light on this matter would contribute significantly to public understanding of operations of the federal government, including whether and to what extent public health officials and other scientific experts are able to speak freely to the public in the midst of a public health emergency. American Oversight is committed to transparency and makes the responses agencies provide to FOIA requests publicly available, and the public’s understanding of the government’s activities would be enhanced through American Oversight’s analysis and publication of these records.   This request is primarily and fundamentally for non-commercial purposes.[2] As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, American Oversight does not have a commercial purpose and the release of the information requested is not in American Oversight’s financial interest. American Oversight’s mission is to promote transparency in government, to educate the public about government activities, and to ensure the accountability of government officials. American Oversight uses the information gathered, and its analysis of it, to educate the public through reports, press releases, or other media. American Oversight also makes materials it gathers available on its public website and promotes their availability on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter.[3]   American Oversight has also demonstrated its commitment to the public disclosure of documents and creation of editorial content through numerous substantive analyses posted to its website.[4] Examples reflecting this commitment to the public disclosure of documents and the creation of editorial content include the posting of records related to an ethics waiver received by a senior Department of Justice attorney and an analysis of what those records demonstrated regarding the Department’s process for issuing such waivers;[5] posting records received as part of American Oversight’s “Audit the Wall” project to gather and analyze information related to the administration’s proposed construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, and analyses of what those records reveal;[6] posting records regarding potential selfdealing at the Department of Housing & Urban Development and related analysis;[7] posting records and analysis relating to the federal government’s efforts to sell nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia;[8] and posting records and analysis regarding the Department of Justice’s decision in response to demands from Congress to direct a U.S. Attorney to undertake a wide-ranging review and make recommendations regarding criminal investigations relating to the President’s political opponents and allegations of misconduct by the Department of Justice itself and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[9]   Accordingly, American Oversight qualifies for a fee waiver.   Guidance Regarding the Search & Processing of Requested Records   In connection with its request for records, American Oversight provides the following guidance regarding the scope of the records sought and the search and processing of records:   Please search all locations and systems likely to have responsive records, regardless of format, medium, or physical characteristics. In conducting your search, please understand the terms “record,” “document,” and “information” in their broadest sense, to include any written, typed, recorded, graphic, printed, or audio material of any kind. We seek records of any kind, including electronic records, audiotapes, videotapes, and photographs, as well as letters, emails, facsimiles, telephone messages, voice mail messages, and transcripts, notes, or minutes of any meetings, telephone conversations, or discussions. https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGJmZjIxNGNhLTM3ZDAtNDFkNy1hZjNjLTVhN2Y1ODc1NWFkNAAQAMAaoWo0O1FDvbEkH5%2B8UR… 4/6 4/2/2020 Mail - Dylan Winters - Outlook Our request for records includes any attachments to those records or other materials enclosed with those records when they were previously transmitted. To the extent that an email is responsive to our request, our request includes all prior messages sent or received in that email chain, as well as any attachments to the email. Please search all relevant records or systems containing records regarding agency business. Do not exclude records regarding agency business contained in files, email accounts, or devices in the personal custody of your officials, such as personal email accounts or text messages. Records of official business conducted using unofficial systems or stored outside of official files are subject to the Federal Records Act and FOIA.[10] It is not adequate to rely on policies and procedures that require officials to move such information to official systems within a certain period of time; American Oversight has a right to records contained in those files even if material has not yet been moved to official systems or if officials have, by intent or through negligence, failed to meet their obligations.[11] Please use all tools available to your agency to conduct a complete and efficient search for potentially responsive records. Agencies are subject to government-wide requirements to manage agency information electronically,[12] and many agencies have adopted the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Capstone program, or similar policies. These systems provide options for searching emails and other electronic records in a manner that is reasonably likely to be more complete than just searching individual custodian files. For example, a custodian may have deleted a responsive email from his or her email program, but your agency’s archiving tools may capture that email under Capstone. At the same time, custodian searches are still necessary; agencies may not have direct access to files stored in .PST files, outside of network drives, in paper format, or in personal email accounts. In the event some portions of the requested records are properly exempt from disclosure, please disclose any reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of the requested records. If a request is denied in whole, please state specifically why it is not reasonable to segregate portions of the record for release. Please take appropriate steps to ensure that records responsive to this request are not deleted by the agency before the completion of processing for this request. If records potentially responsive to this request are likely to be located on systems where they are subject to potential deletion, including on a scheduled basis, please take steps to prevent that deletion, including, as appropriate, by instituting a litigation hold on those records. Conclusion   If you have any questions regarding how to construe this request for records or believe that further discussions regarding search and processing would facilitate a more efficient production of records of interest to American Oversight, please do not hesitate to contact American Oversight to discuss this request. American Oversight welcomes an opportunity to discuss its request with you before you undertake your search or incur search or duplication costs. By working together at the outset, American Oversight and your agency can decrease the likelihood of costly and time-consuming litigation in the future. Where possible, please provide responsive material in an electronic format by email. Alternatively, please provide responsive material in native format or in PDF format on a USB drive. Please send any responsive material being sent by mail to American Oversight, 1030 15th Street NW, Suite B255, Washington, DC 20005. If it will accelerate release of responsive records to American Oversight, please also provide responsive material on a rolling basis. We share a common mission to promote transparency in government. American Oversight looks forward to working with your agency on this request. If you do not understand any part of this request, please contact Christine H. Monahan at foia@americanoversight.org or 202.869.5244. Also, if American Oversight’s request for a fee waiver is not granted in full, please contact us immediately upon making such a determination. https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGJmZjIxNGNhLTM3ZDAtNDFkNy1hZjNjLTVhN2Y1ODc1NWFkNAAQAMAaoWo0O1FDvbEkH5%2B8UR… 5/6 4/2/2020 Mail - Dylan Winters - Outlook Sincerely, Austin R. Evers Executive Director American Oversight [1] 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). [2] See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). [3] American Oversight currently has approximately 15,500 page likes on Facebook and 102,100 followers on Twitter. American Oversight, FACEBOOK, >https://www.facebook.com/weareoversight/< (last visited Mar. 1, 2020); American Oversight (@weareoversight), TWITTER, >https://twitter.com/weareoversight< (last visited Mar. 1, 2020). [4] News, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/blog<. [5] DOJ Records Relating to Solicitor General Noel Francisco’s Recusal, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/document/doj-civil-division-response-noel-francisco-compliance<; Francisco & the Travel Ban: What We Learned from the DOJ Documents, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/francisco-the-travel-ban-what-we-learned-from-the-doj-documents<. [6] See generally Audit the Wall, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/investigation/audit-thewall<; see, e.g., Border Wall Investigation Report: No Plans, No Funding, No Timeline, No Wall, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/border-wall-investigation-report-no-plans-no-funding-no-timeline-no-wall<. [7] Documents Reveal Ben Carson Jr.’s Attempts to Use His Influence at HUD to Help His Business, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/documents-reveal-ben-carson-jr-s-attempts-to-use-his-influence-at-hudto-help-his-business<. [8] Investigating the Trump Administration’s Efforts to Sell Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/investigating-the-trump-administrations-efforts-to-sell-nuclear-technology-to-saudiarabia<. [9] Sessions’ Letter Shows DOJ Acted on Trump’s Authoritarian Demand to Investigate Clinton, AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, >https://www.americanoversight.org/sessions-letter<. [10] See Competitive Enter. Inst. v. Office of Sci. & Tech. Policy, 827 F.3d 145, 149–50 (D.C. Cir. 2016); cf. Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Kerry, 844 F.3d 952, 955–56 (D.C. Cir. 2016). [11] See Competitive Enter. Inst. v. Office of Sci. & Tech. Policy, No. 14-cv-765, slip op. at 8 (D.D.C. Dec. 12, 2016). [12] Presidential Memorandum—Managing Government Records, 76 Fed. Reg. 75,423 (Nov. 28, 2011), >https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/11/28/presidential-memorandum-managing-governmentrecords<; Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Exec. Office of the President, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments & Independent Agencies, “Managing Government Records Directive,” M-12-18 (Aug. 24, 2012), >https://www.archives.gov/files/records-mgmt/m-12-18.pdf<. https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGJmZjIxNGNhLTM3ZDAtNDFkNy1hZjNjLTVhN2Y1ODc1NWFkNAAQAMAaoWo0O1FDvbEkH5%2B8UR… 6/6 NSC Press Guidance on Coronavirus From: To: Date: Attachments "Lin, Merry S. EOP/WHO" "Morris, Rachel M. EOP/USTR" , "Emerson, Jeffrey W. EOP/USTR" Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:14:38 -0500 Novel Coronavius PG 2.2v2.docx (61.2 kB) Here is the press guidance from today. There should be an updated version overnight. 1 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000001 410 n, National Security Council Press Guidance Novel Corona Virus 2.2.2020 (v2) February 1st, 2020 Novel Coronavirus Announcement • President Trump took decisive action to minimize the risk of the spread of Novel Coronavirus in the United States. • Since taking office, President Trump has been clear. His top priority is the safety of the American people. • The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has declared that the novel coronavirus presents a Public Health Emergency in the United States. • Additionally, the President has signed a Presidential Proclamation using his authority pursuant to Section 212 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act suspending the entry into the United States of foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. • Beginning 5 p.m. EST, Sunday, February 2, 2020 the U.S. Government will implement temporary measures to increase our abilities to detect and contain the novel coronavirus proactively and aggressively. o Any U.S. citizen returning to the U.S. who has been in Hubei province in the previous 14 days will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine, to ensure they're provided proper medical care and health screening. o Any U.S. citizen returning to the U.S. who has been in the rest of mainland China within the previous 14 days, will undergo proactive entry health screening at a select number of ports of entry up to 14 days of monitored self-quarantine to ensure they've not contracted the virus and do not pose a public health risk. • As a result, foreign nationals, other than immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents, who have traveled in China within the last 14 days, will be denied entry into the United States. • These actions will decrease the strain on public health officials screening incoming travelers, expedite the processing of U.S. citizens returning from China, and ensure resources are focused on the health and safety of the American people. 1 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000002 • The risk of infection for Americans remains low and all agencies are working aggressively to monitor this continuously evolving situation and to keep the public informed. • We realize these measures could provide added stress and prolong travel times for some individuals • Public health and security experts agree these measures are necessary to contain the virus and protect the American people. • The United States appreciates China's efforts and coordination with public health officials across the globe and continues to encourage the highest levels of transparency. • It is likely that we will continue to see more cases in the United States in the coming days and weeks, including some limited person-to-person transmission. • The American public can be assured, the full weight of the U.S. Government, in close coordination with state and local officials, is working to safeguard the health and safety of the American people, Airline Flight Cancelations • The State Department travel advisory does not prohibit airlines from flying to or from China. • However, we are aware that U.S. companies are independently making the decision to reduce services between United States and China. • The White House did not call the airlines and hasn't asked for a suspension of flights between the U.S. and China. Level 4 Travel Advisory China • The United States is advising American citizens not to travel to China. • Those already in China should leave as soon as it is safe to do so. • If you do travel to China, you will be subject to additional screening and public health measures upon return the United States. • We continue to closely monitor the situation in China and will revise our travel advisory as conditions warrant. 2 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000003 Status of New Confirmed Cases • The total number of infections in the U.S. is 11 patients in five states, AZ, CA, IL, WA, and MA. • The most recent confirmed case involves a patient recently returned from Wuhan, China. • It is likely that we will continue to see more cases in the United States in the coming days and weeks, including some limited person-to-person transmission. Future Charter Flights • The U.S. government is coordinating closely with the PRC government to deliver humanitarian assistance to and evacuate additional U.S. citizens from Wuhan. • The Department of Defense is prepared to provide housing support for people on these flights. January 28, 2020 Charter Flight • The U.S. Government has repatriated 195 U.S. Citizens from Wuhan. • These people departed Wuhan, China by charter flight January 28th 2020. • All passengers were screened for symptoms multiple times by both U.S. and Chinese authorities prior to boarding. • Medical professionals continuously monitored the health of all passengers throughout the flight. • All passengers briefly disembarked during a refueling stop in Anchorage, AK, where they were rescreened for symptoms, monitored by medical professionals, and kept separated from the public. • Upon arrival in California, all passengers were subject to CDC screening, health observation, and monitoring requirements. • On January 31st, 2020 passengers were made subject to a 14 day mandatory quarantine to ensure they're provided proper medical care and health screening. • This mandatory quarantine period includes time passengers have already spent at March Air Reserve Base. 3 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000004 • Our goal is to complete the health screening activities in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of all passengers and the people of the United States. • We thank all passengers and their families for their cooperation, patience, and understanding. • We thank state and local officials for their support Task Force • On January 29, 2020 President Trump announced the formation of the President's Coronavirus Task Force. • The Task Force is led by Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and is coordinated through the National Security Council. • The Task Force is composed of subject matter experts from the White House and several United States Government agencies. • The Task force also includes some of the Nation's foremost experts on infectious diseases. • The Task Force will lead the Administration's efforts to monitor, contain, and mitigate the spread of the virus, while ensuring that the American people have the most accurate and up-to-date health and travel information. • The Task Force will also ensure close coordination with State and local officials. What CDC are Doing • They have a multi-layered, cross-agency public health response to protect the American public. o Airport screening — facilitates early diagnosis and isolation o Educating the public and medical community — facilitated detection of potential cases within the United States • CDC have activated its Emergency Operations Center and begun using public health measures, including enhanced entry screening, as part of our aggressive public health response strategy. • Based on evolving information from China, CDC have reassessed the current entry screening strategy and will now expand advanced screening capacity from the original five airports to all 20 quarantine stations in the United States. 4 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000005 Questions about China's Response • China has accepted the United States' offer to incorporate a group of experts into a World Health Organization mission to China to learn more about and combat the virus. • The actions we are taking complement the work of China and the WHO to contain the outbreak in China. • The United States appreciates China's efforts and continued coordination with public health officials across the globe. • We extend our deepest compassion to the people of China during this very difficult time Biodefense Strategy • Last year, President Trump made biodefense a priority and implemented the first ever National Biodefense Strategy to improve speed of action in situations like this, and we are seeing that strategy pay dividends now. • CDC is accessing additional funding for the most urgent and immediate needs including surge support for ports of entry, enhanced laboratory capacity, and technical assistance. International Engagement • We are concerned about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, and are closely monitoring the situation with our international partners. • Increased volume of air traffic between Africa and China, compared with the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, underscores our sense of urgency in helping our African partners. • Global health security is a top priority for the United States, as shown by our unparalleled support to public health in Africa, including $85 billion in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding since 2003. • We share information with our African partners to ensure the best possible international preparedness for the ongoing global health emergency. • On January 31st, 2020 Dr. Redfield of CDC and Dr. Fauci of the NIH briefed African ambassadors on the outbreak, the President's task force on coronavirus, and suggestions for domestic response. 5 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000006 RE: All Cabinet Call From: "Connor, Cameron M. EOP/WHO" Cc: "McBride, Emily J. EOP/WHO" who.eop.gov> Perfect—thank you! I will circle back as soon as we have a confirmed time. From: Knight, Jaclyn C. EOP/USTR Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 4:03 PM To: Connor, Cameron M. [OP/WHO Cc: McBride, Emily J. [OP/WHO Subject: RE: All Cabinet Call Thanks Cami! If for some reason I am unable to get specific guidance by COB, I would say the 2/14 10-11 and 11-12 slots are preferr4ed. From: Connor, Cameron M. [OP/WHO Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 1:15 PM To: Knight, Jaclyn C. EOP/USTR Cc: McBride, Emily J. [OP/WHO Subject: RE: All Cabinet Call No worries! Unclear on whether or not it would need to be secure—I can ask and follow-up. We should plan for it to last the full hour. The only details I have are the ones I shared below. Will let you know more when I hear, but for now, we just need the Cabinet availability in order to plan the call. Thank ou! Cameron Connor Office of Cabinet Affairs The White House M: Exemption 6 From: Knight, Jaclyn C. EOP/USTR Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 1:12 PM To: Connor, Cameron M. [OP/WHO Cc: McBride, Emily J. [OP/WHO Subject: RE: All Cabinet Call 1 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000007 Jumped the gun 0 a few more questions: 1. Would it need to be secure? 2. Would it last the full hour? From: Knight, Jaclyn C. EOP/USTR Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 1:11 PM To: Connor, Cameron M. [OP/WHO Cc: McBride, Emily J. [OP/WHO Subject: RE: All Cabinet Call Hi Cami — Thanks we will check. To confirm, who would be running the call? Is it POTUS? From: Connor, Cameron M. [OP/WHO Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2020 1:11 PM To: Connor, Cameron M. [OP/WHO Cc: McBride, Emily J. [OP/WHO Subject: All Cabinet Call All, The White House would like to host a conference call for the Cabinet to be updated on the status of the coronavirus. Please respond by COB today with your Principal's availability for the following times: • Thursday, February 13th from 5:00 — 6:00 PM • Friday, February 14th from 8:00 — 9:00 AM • Friday, February 14th from 10:00 — 11:00 AM • Friday, February 14th from 11:00 AM — 12:00 PM Thank you, Cami Cameron Connor Office of Cabinet Affairs The White House M: Exemption 6 2 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000008 Fw: CDC Media Statement: CDC Announces Additional COVID19 Presumptive Positive Cases From: "Hall, Bill (HHS/ASPA)" Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 23:48:42 -0500 From: Media@cdc.gov (CDC) Sent: Friday, February 28, 2020 11:30:34 PM To: Media@cdc.gov (CDC) Subject: CDC Media Statement: CDC Announces Additional COVID-19 Presumptive Positive Cases Media Statement For Immediate Release Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 Contact: CDC Media Relations (404) 639-3286 CDC Announces Additional COVID-19 Presumptive Positive Cases The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware of four new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 announced by state public health authorities who are currently conducting investigations. • * California has announced a second possible instance of community spread. • * Oregon has announced its first possible instance of community spread. • * The state of Washington has announced two presumptive cases. One is likely travel related. The other is the state's first possible instance of community spread. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. One previous possible instance of community spread was announced in California on February 26. The four patients tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in their respective states using the CDC-developed rRT-PCR. They are considered presumptive positive cases pending CDC confirmatory testing. However, CDC and State and local public health authorities are proceeding with public health investigations and response activities as if these were confirmed cases. With both confirmed and presumptive positive cases, CDC recommends healthcare providers follow the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with 1 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000009 Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID19 in Healthcare Settings. These four cases bring the total number of COVID-19 cases detected through the U.S. public health system to 19. The federal government has been working closely with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus. CDC and federal partners have been preparing for the detection of additional instances of personto-person spread of COVID-19 for weeks. The federal government will continue to respond aggressively to this rapidly evolving situation. For more information about COVID-19 visit >www.cdc.govicovid19<. ### U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CDC works 24/7 protecting America's health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America's most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world. 2 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000010 „.1 SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Washington, DC 20201 Iv4;hcraa TO: Interested Members of Congress FROM: Robert Charrow General Counsel Dr. Robert Kadlec Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dr. Robert Redfield Director Centers for Disease Control and Prevention DATE: February 29, 2020 MIS is committed to our mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. We are proud to have participated in the safe repatriation of our fellow citizens—many of whom are federal employees and veterans who have served faithfully. • MIS is leading a robust response to the emerging COVID-19 and takes all congressional inquiries seriously. MIS also takes seriously all whistleblower complaints and will afford any whistleblower the full range of protections to which they are entitled under the applicable laws, including the Whistleblower Protection Act. There are no positive cases of COVID-19 to which any Administration for Children and Families (ACF) employees involved in the repatriation of individuals from China could have been exposed. Stated differently, no ACF employees involved with repatriating persons from China were exposed to any individuals who tested positive for the virus. Furthermore, the 14-day window for the virus to manifest itself has long since passed and no ACF employee has become ill with COVID-19. Therefore, testing for the virus is not medically necessary. Nonetheless, to allay any employee anxiety, MIS will administer tests to deployed ACF employees who request it. • MIS is conducting an ongoing, comprehensive internal investigation in response to the whistleblower's claims. MIS is also conducting an ongoing, comprehensive investigation into what protocols and procedures were followed at both facilities. This is an intensive process involving significant fact gathering. We understand Congress's desire for information and, for that reason and others, HHS is handling this situation with grave urgency. MIS will fully brief Congress and the public when it has completed its investigation. At this time, it would be premature to provide further details about the substance of the complaint, nor can MIS discuss personnel matters publicly. MIS welcomes and will cooperate fully with any reviews that may be conducted by the MIS Office of Inspector General into this, or related, matters. 1 MULTI-USTR-20-0406-A-000011