FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE

Building a Better Future for All Americans

Abuse of Government

Why do actions of the federal government exhibit so much dysfunction, often by default?

Inflation

What is being done by the government to address skyrocketing prices?

Energy

How are government actions affecting access to reliable, domestic sources of energy?

Infrastructure

Will infrastructure spending lead to economic growth?

Supply Chain

How is the federal government responding to the
supply chain crisis?

COVID

What can we learn from the government’s pandemic response?

HHS refuses to provide records revealing if cloth masks work or not

August 16, 2022

(Washington, DC) – Today, the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) announced transparency litigation against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking records surrounding studies about the efficacy of cloth masks.

In January of this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that their internal studies have shown that wearing cloth masks is not an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID. This revelation came after almost two years of HHS, along with its subsidiaries the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), recommending the use of cloth masks to stop the spread of COVID-19. During this time, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who leads NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) along with his role as an advisor to the White House, and other government leaders went on regular media tours encouraging mask mandates and dismissing those who questioned whether cloth masks were effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19. They quite possibly continued doing so after having access to the studies.

‘Wholly Inadequate’: Federal Agencies Have No System To Check Whether Remote Employees Are Actually Working

By Patrick Hauf (Washington Free Beacon)

Several federal agencies have no system in place to monitor whether remote workers are actually clocking in for the job—a fact one Republican senator said is “unacceptable and baffling” as the Biden administration pushes to expand telework options for its growing number of federal workers.

Four federal agencies told the Washington Free Beacon they have no specific oversight of remote employees: the Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. The agencies said their usual productivity measurements are adequate to track employees who shifted to remote work at the start of the pandemic. Sen. Richard Burr (R., N.C.) received a similar response from the Department of Labor when he asked about the agency’s telework policies—and said this justification is “wholly inadequate and non-responsive.

Our Principles

We need a government that works for the people, not special interests. One that assists entrepreneurs and small businesses rather than erecting new barriers to success. We need a functional government that advances the following principles:

Thriving Economy

Americans need an economy that works for everyone and allows us to face any challenge that comes our way, whether it is the next pandemic, a changing climate, or an aging population.

Healthy America

The pandemic hit our country hard and reminded us of the importance of a social safety net and healthy population. The government must not overpromise and underdeliver, allowing special interests to benefit from less competition and a more dependent population.

Strong and Equitable Workforce

By expanding opportunities for meaningful work, we can give people purpose, increase productivity, and lay the foundation for a more inclusive, equitable workforce.

Safe and Clean Environment

Important American values such as reducing harmful emissions and promoting clean water hinge on a strong economy and human ingenuity.