2 Weeks After Psaki Seemingly Scoffed at Sending Americans Free COVID Tests, Biden Is Planning to Do Just That

President Joe Biden is expected to announce a plan to distribute 500 million at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for free.

The announcement comes roughly two weeks after White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki seemingly scoffed at the idea of sending Americans free coronavirus tests.

During a press briefing on Dec. 8, NPR’s Mara Liasson noted that several countries “basically have massive testing, free of charge or for a nominal fee.”

“Why can’t that be done in the United States?” she asked.

Psaki responded, “Well, I would say, first, you know, we have eight tests that have been approved by the FDA here. We see that as the gold standard. Whether or not all of those tests would meet that standard is a question for the scientists and medical experts, but I don’t suspect they would.”

“Our objective is to continue to increase accessibility and decrease costs. And if you look at what we’ve done over the course of time, we’ve quadrupled the size of our testing plan, we’ve cut the cost significantly over the past few months, and this effort to push — to ensure — ensures you’re able to get your tests refunded means 150 million Americans will be able to get free tests,” she continued.

Liasson pushed back, “That’s kind of complicated, though. Why not just make them free and give them out to — and have them available everywhere?”

“Should we just send one to every American?” Psaki responded. “Then what — then what happens if you — if every American has one test? How much does that cost, and then what happens after that?”

Liasson said, “I don’t know. All I know is that other countries seem to be making them available for — in greater quantities, for less money.”

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Psaki was widely criticized for her response to the question.

Biden is expected to announce during remarks on Tuesday that a website will be launched in January that will let Americans request coronavirus tests for free and have them shipped to their homes.

That announcement comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the Omicron variant accounted for about 73% of the new cases of the virus last week and as officials are concerned about a potential Covid surge in January that could overwhelm healthcare facilities.