FR 2021-00284

The document in question is a Notice of Closed Meeting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2021. This notice serves to inform that there will be a meeting held by the CDC, but, as is often the case with such notices, the meeting is not open to the public. Gregory Anderson, who is a Scientific Review Officer at the CDC, is listed as the contact person for further information regarding this meeting.

General Overview

In examining the details of the notice, it is that its publication was authorized by Kalwant Smagh, the Director of the Strategic Business Initiatives Unit within the CDC. This individual has the authority to sign off on such notices, ensuring the public is at least made aware of the meeting's existence even if the details remain undisclosed.

Significant Issues and Concerns

The document presents several concerns, primarily regarding transparency and communication:

1. Lack of Purpose or Agenda: The notice does not provide any information on the purpose or topics to be covered in the meeting. The absence of this information can lead to suspicions about the nature of the discussions or decisions being made behind closed doors.

2. Reason for Closure: There is no explanation as to why the meeting is closed to the public. While there could be legitimate reasons, such as confidentiality or sensitive information, the lack of detail may create unease among those who feel such information should be publicly accessible.

3. Missing Details on Date and Time: Surprisingly, the document omits key logistical details, such as the date and time of the meeting. This omission could impact interested parties who are tracking CDC activities and influence stakeholders' ability to engage or inquire.

4. Delegated Authority Clarity: Although an authority delegation is noted, there is no procedural explanation of how this authority was assigned. This absence might cause confusion about who exactly is making these decisions and on what grounds.

Broad Public Impact

From a broad perspective, this document underscores a communication strategy that might unintentionally foster skepticism. When governmental functions are shrouded in secrecy, particularly in areas that could involve public health, it can lead to public distrust. Transparency is often critical to maintaining public confidence, particularly in health-related agencies that directly impact the well-being of communities and individuals.

Specific Stakeholder Impact

Certain stakeholders, such as advocacy groups, researchers, or those in affected communities, might find this closed process frustrating. These groups usually rely on clear communication from organizations like the CDC to inform their work or advocacy efforts. On the positive side, there may be cases where the closed nature of the meeting serves to protect sensitive information, thus benefiting stakeholders who trust the CDC to handle delicate health data responsibly.

In summary, while this notice performs its basic function of informing the public about a meeting, it does so with a conspicuous lack of detail that raises legitimate concerns regarding transparency and engagement.