Other than Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, no public health official was more prominently featured during the COVID crisis than Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and on Friday, the controversial bureaucrat submitted her resignation in an unexpected development that was cheered by many.
The latest high-profile official to depart the Biden administration as the rats break for the lifeboats, Walensky was a constant presence on legacy media where she fearmongered, pushed vaccines, and dispensed contradictory information, becoming a symbol of the regime’s failed response to the once in a lifetime pandemic, a dark time in the nation’s history, when the Constitution took a back seat to “The Science” and grave damage was inflicted upon a generation of children through policies pushed by the so-called “experts” like the soon to be former CDC director.
Walensky broke the bad news to colleagues at a Friday staff meeting, calling it quits after just over two years at the head of the CDC, perhaps the most tumultuous period of its existence, also sending a letter to President Joe Biden that she was turning in her lab coat. She followed Fauci out the door after the 82-year-old celebrity immunologist retired from his longtime stint as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) where he had been dug in deeper than the proverbial Alabama tick since Ronald Reagan’s first term in the White House.
It was an emotional day for the 54-year-old who admitted that she had “mixed emotions” about leaving and, according to The New York Times, “broke down in tears, according to people on a conference call with her.”
“I took on this role with the goal of leaving behind the dark days of the pandemic and moving the C.D.C. — and public health — into a much better and more trusted place,” Walensky later said in an email to agency staff.
🚨 BREAKING: Rochelle Walensky, is resigning as @CDCDirector. The rats are leaving the sinking ship. But even Walensky will have to face responsibility. No amnesty! pic.twitter.com/2LwGvcJGky
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddek) May 5, 2023
The White House released a tepid statement from Biden thanking her for her service.
“Dr. Walensky has saved lives with her steadfast and unwavering focus on the health of every American. As Director of the CDC, she led a complex organization on the frontlines of a once-in-a-generation pandemic with honesty and integrity. She marshalled our finest scientists and public health experts to turn the tide on the urgent crises we’ve faced,” the president said. “Dr. Walensky leaves CDC a stronger institution, better positioned to confront health threats and protect Americans. We have all benefited from her service and dedication to public health, and I wish her the best in her next chapter.”
Twitter reacted to news of Walensky stepping down with many joyously cheering her departure.
“Rochelle Walensky calls pregnant women ‘birthing people’ and claimed that vaccinated people don’t carry the Covid-19 virus,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) “By these two statements alone, she was never bright enough to be CDC Director and clearly didn’t believe in science. She won’t be missed, but she should still be held accountable.”
Rochelle Walensky calls pregnant women “birthing people” and claimed that vaccinated people don’t carry the Covid-19 virus.
By these two statements alone, she was never bright enough to be CDC Director and clearly didn’t believe in science.
She won’t be missed, but she should…
— Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@FmrRepMTG) May 5, 2023
“Rochelle Walensky was responsible for spreading some of the WORST misinformation about COVID & the vaccine. She allowed the RADICAL teachers unions to write official CDC guidelines on school closures. GOOD RIDDANCE to Rochelle!!” Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) wrote.
Rochelle Walensky was responsible for spreading some of the WORST misinformation about COVID & the vaccine. She allowed the RADICAL teachers unions to write official CDC guidelines on school closures. GOOD RIDDANCE to Rochelle!!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) May 5, 2023
“Delighted to see this dangerous person out of power. She was an hysteric who wielded far too much power in the most irresponsible, dishonest way. Good riddance,” tweeted conservative commentator and SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly.
Delighted to see this dangerous person out of power. She was an hysteric who wielded far too much power in the most irresponsible, dishonest way. Good riddance. https://t.co/Oia155ENAk
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) May 5, 2023
“Long overdue,” wrote Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.
Long overdue.https://t.co/Q6dhV12CQ9
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 5, 2023
“Rochelle Walensky’s legacy will be the shattered dreams of a generation of American kids, especially poor and minority kids, whose futures she marred by working to keep schools closed in 2021,” said Stanford University medical professor Jay Bhattacharya
Rochelle Walensky's legacy will be the shattered dreams of a generation of American kids, especially poor and minority kids, whose futures she marred by working to keep schools closed in 2021.
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) May 5, 2023
“…And @CDCDirector is out. No successor named and a super-tepid goodbye from Uncle Joe,” tweeted journalist Alex Berenson. “Sounds more like fired to me, but what do I know?”Anyway, Dr. W, as a wise man once said to @RealJasonKidd , don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!”
…And @CDCDirector is out. No successor named and a super-tepid goodbye from Uncle Joe.
Sounds more like fired to me, but what do I know?
Anyway, Dr. W, as a wise man once said to @RealJasonKidd, don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!https://t.co/Osrk5gYdP6
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) May 5, 2023
Additional reactions to Walensky’s resignation/ouster:
Walensky was just taking orders from the Biden people. Any other analysis of her tenure at CDC is flawed. Unlike Fauci, she was a political appointee and had zero autonomy. A mere puppet for the real people in charge.
— Jordan Schachtel @ dossier.today (@JordanSchachtel) May 5, 2023
Walensky resigns today! pic.twitter.com/LdWtJEjaxO
— Edward Dowd (@DowdEdward) May 5, 2023
Walensky deftly maneuvered the CDC into a position where they are totally distrusted by both Covid skeptics and Covid hysterics by being a serial flip-flopper and this statement is just hilariously false. https://t.co/qEcqVVWrCX
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) May 5, 2023
I’ve seen the reports that CDC Director Rochelle Walensky is stepping down. This is a true story, unlike the time she told us vaccinated people couldn’t get covid.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) May 5, 2023
Bye bye Walensky. Your legacy was to destroy any remaining shred of trust most Americans had in the CDC. Hope you do better at the next gig.
— Jenin Younes (former handle @leftylockdowns1) (@JeninYounesEsq) May 5, 2023
The worst public health official in American history was Tony Fauci. He's gone.
The second-worst public health official in American history was Rochelle Walensky. She's gone.
The third-worst public official in American history is @DrCaliff_FDA. He's next.— Toby Rogers, Ph.D., M.P.P. (@uTobian) May 5, 2023
Her 15 minutes are up.
She served her purpose as the worst CDC director in the agent’s history!!! Good riddance @CDCDirector – I’m sure you will be compensated well for your ability to look into the camera and lie to America. 🎉https://t.co/3Pkk2wq13z— Dr. Lynn Fynn-derella (@Fynnderella1) May 5, 2023
Walensky was an unmitigated disaster, spreading misinformation about masks and COVID vaccines while collaborating with teachers unions to keep kids masked and contributing to degrading trust in public health
Under her leadership the CDC made nothing but mistake after mistake https://t.co/IDSfFmjuUO
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) May 5, 2023
In other pandemic-related news, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Friday that the global body declared an end to the COVID health emergency.
“Covid has changed our world, and it has changed us,” Tedros said. “If we all go back to how things were before Covid-19, we will have failed to learn our lessons, and we will have failed future generations. This experience must change us all for the better.”
The good news and great hope: the global health emergency of #COVID19 is over. https://t.co/Sq5gU55BOe pic.twitter.com/xSvkkcqTqy
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 5, 2023
Walensky often struggled during her tenure with her previous experience as a doctor at a Massachusetts hospital and a Harvard University professor not being an adequate background for the person tasked with heading up the sprawling health bureaucracy, a role that she clearly struggled with.
She leaves behind an agency with its reputation in tatters, with public faith in American health institutions shaken as a result of the mismanagement of the crisis, the grandstanding of Fauci, and the politicization of the pandemic, confidence that likely won’t soon be restored, if it ever is.
Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.