CDC director Walensky calls for more authority from Congress

State of play: Walensky said she's been on Capitol Hill advocating for the agency to have the power to compel health data sharing from states, local health departments and providers.

• "We have to have the authorities to be more nimble. We cannot compel data to come to CDC," Walensky said. "I think people anticipate that we have access to data that we're somehow not transmitting or being transparent about."

Between the lines: The CDC has come under frequent fire for its response to public health threats and communications missteps and admitted it fell short of expectations.

Yes, but: Its capabilities are often hindered, the director said, pointing to its hiring authorities as an example.

• "I have people working on the front lines in Uganda working on Ebola. I can't provide them with hazard pay or overtime pay," she said. "Those are some of the authorities that other agencies enjoy."
• She said travelers from Uganda are being funneled through five different airports. But the CDC doesn't have the authority to ask for final destination information to get follow-up data from those travelers.
• "It's really difficult to run a public health response that way," she said.