Report: Internal review finds deep culture problems at CDC

What they're saying: Individuals inside the CDC or from adjacent government agencies raised longstanding frustrations, according to Bloomberg, citing a rigid budget structure that prevents money from being reallocated to new priorities during emergencies.

• The CDC also has insufficient authority and tools to obtain data from local governments and health care providers and to analyze it, the individuals said.
• The review also takes up how the CDC can more quickly turn around its scientific research and disseminate findings to the public.

Background: The CDC has been involved in a series of messaging missteps that hindered the Biden administration's COVID response.

• Months of convoluted guidance hit a breaking point with widely criticized agency guidance on how long COVID patients should remain in isolation.

What's ahead: Part of the review is being led by longtime HHS official James Macrae, who continues to interview people, Bloomberg reported.

• The results could give CDC director Rochelle Walensky momentum to usher in bureaucratic changes at the Atlanta-based agency.