Deborah Birx

Birx was born in Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Donald Birx, a mathematician and electrical engineer, and Adele Sparks Birx, a nursing instructor.{{cite news |last1=Kerry |first1=John |title=Remarks at Swearing-in Ceremony for Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of the USG Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Deborah Birx |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/04/225218.htm |work=U.S. Department of State |date=April 25, 2014}}{{cite journal |title=Class News |journal=Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine |date=July 21, 2016 |url=https://magazine.nursing.jhu.edu/2016/07/class-news-26/ |publisher=Johns Hopkins School of Nursing |issue=26}} Her late brother Danny was a scientist who founded a research company, and her older brother, Donald Birx, is president of Plymouth State University.{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Aparna |title=From ISEF to the White House, Dr. Deborah Birx leads the country during a public health crisis |url=https://www.societyforscience.org/blog/from-isef-to-the-white-house-dr-deborah-birx-leads-the-country-during-a-public-health-crisis/ |website=societyforscience.org |publisher=Society for Science & the Public |access-date=April 24, 2020 |date=April 23, 2020}}

Her family lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she attended Lampeter-Strasburg High School.{{cite news |first=Jed |last=Reinert |title=White House coronavirus response coordinator found early success at Lancaster County science fairs |url=https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/white-house-coronavirus-response-coordinator-found-early-success-at-lancaster/article_a0e86ca8-69fc-11ea-96d8-9f6517829c85.html |work=LNP |date=March 20, 2020 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331165134/https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/white-house-coronavirus-response-coordinator-found-early-success-at-lancaster/article_a0e86ca8-69fc-11ea-96d8-9f6517829c85.html |archive-date=March 31, 2020 |url-status=live}} Growing up, the siblings used a shed behind their family home as a makeshift lab for experiments in astronomy, geology, biology, and on one occasion, a homemade satellite dish antenna mounted on roller skates.

In Birx's sophomore year, she won third place at the Lancaster City-County Science Fair, and she was featured in a front-page story in the Lancaster New Era with the subheading: Girls Sweep Top 3 Prizes. She told the Intelligencer Journal that, "third is alright, but I'll be back. I want that first prize." Her junior year she competed in the International Science and Engineering Fair in San Diego. Her family later moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and she attended Carlisle High for her final year of high school.{{cite news |last1=Gitt |first1=Tammie |title=White House names Carlisle High School grad to serve as chief adviser on coronavirus response team |url=https://cumberlink.com/news/local/communities/carlisle/white-house-names-carlisle-high-school-grad-to-serve-as/article_bf216326-8892-5f56-a0c7-37867bc06295.html |work=The Sentinel |date=February 28, 2020}} During her senior year, she competed at the Capital Area Science Fair and was awarded the Grand Prize.{{cite web |title=HIGHLIGHT OF ONE OF OUR OWN |url=https://www.casef.org/ |website=casef.org |publisher=Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair |access-date=April 24, 2020 |quote=Dr. Deborah Birx is a graduate of Carlisle High School and the Capital Area Science & Engineering Fair Senior Grand Champion of 1973.}}

Birx received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, completing her undergraduate studies in two years, at Houghton University.{{cite web |title=CHS Alum Heads Coronavirus Task Force |url=https://www.carlisleschools.org/news/current_news/chs_alum_heads_coronavirus_task_force |website=Coronavirus Task Force Carlisle Area School District News |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928213250/https://www.carlisleschools.org/news/current_news/chs_alum_heads_coronavirus_task_force |url-status=dead }} In 1976, while enrolled at Hershey Medical School, Birx married fellow medical student and future cardiologist Bryan Dudley Raybuck, whom she had met at Houghton.{{cite news |title=Medical Students United In Marriage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48295722/deborah-lea-birx-first-marriage-to/ |newspaper=The Sentinel |date=December 20, 1976 |page=11 |publisher=The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pennsylvania Dec 1976 |access-date=October 9, 2021}} In 1980, Birx earned a Doctor of Medicine from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

From 1980 to 1994, Birx served as an active duty reserve officer in the United States Army. From 1994 to 2008, Birx was active duty regular Army, achieving the rank of Colonel.

From 1980 to 1989, Birx worked as a physician at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In 1981, Birx completed a one-year internship and did a two-year residency in internal medicine. From 1983 to 1986, she completed two fellowships in clinical immunology in the areas of allergies and diagnostics, where she worked in Anthony Fauci's lab. From 1985 to 1989, Birx was the assistant chief of the Walter Reed Allergy/Immunology Service. Birx started her career as a clinician in immunology, eventually focusing on HIV/AIDS vaccine research.{{cite news |title=Birx, Deborah L., M.D. |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/224406.htm |work=U.S. Department of State |date=2017}}

From 1986 to 1989, Birx worked at the National Institutes of Health as an investigator specializing in cellular immunology.

Birx returned to Walter Reed, where from 1989 to 1995 she worked in the Department of Retroviral Research, first as an assistant chief and then as chief of the division. She was lab director in HIV-1 Vaccine Development for a year. Birx became the director of the United States Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, a position she held for nine years, from 1996 to 2005. In that position, Birx led the HIV vaccine clinical trial of RV 144, the first supporting evidence of any vaccine being effective in lowering the risk of contracting HIV.

In March 2020, Birx became a board member of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/board/members/ |title=Members of the Board: United States of America: Board Member – Deborah L. Birx |work=The Global Fund |access-date=March 22, 2020}}

From 2005 to 2014, Birx served as the director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Global HIV/AIDS (DGHA), part of the agency's Center for Global Health.{{cite news |last1=Birx |first1=Deborah L. |title=Written Testimony: Deborah L. Birx, MD Ambassador at Large Designate and Coordinator Designate, Department of State, United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally Senate Foreign Relations Committee |url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/030614PM_Testimony%20-%20Deborah%20Birx.pdf |work=Senate Foreign Relations Committee |publisher=U.S. Senate |date=March 6, 2014}}

In January 2014, President Barack Obama nominated Birx to be the Ambassador-at-Large and U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator as part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.{{cite news |last1=Markey |first1=Edward J. |title=Nominations of Deborah Birx; Suzan LeVine; Maureen Cormack; and Peter Selfridge |url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/030614_Transcript_Nominations%20of%20Birx_LeVine_Cormack_Selfridge.pdf |work=United States Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations |date=March 6, 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Cardin |first1=Ben |title=Cardin Welcomes the Nomination of Dr. Deborah L. Birx of Maryland to be Ambassador at Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally |url=https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-welcomes-the-nomination-of-dr-deborah-l-birx-of-maryland-to-be-ambassador-at-large-and-coordinator-of-united-states-government-activities-to-combat-hiv/aids-globally |work=U.S. Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2020 |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403225657/https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-welcomes-the-nomination-of-dr-deborah-l-birx-of-maryland-to-be-ambassador-at-large-and-coordinator-of-united-states-government-activities-to-combat-hiv/aids-globally |url-status=dead}}

Birx was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on April 2, 2014,{{cite web |title=PN1312 — Deborah L. Birx — Department of State |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/113th-congress/1312 |work=Congress.gov |date=April 2, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2020}} and was sworn in two days later.{{cite press release |title=Dr. Deborah Birx Sworn-In as New U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator |url=http://www.pepfar.gov/press/releases/2014/224403.htm |work=U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief |date=April 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325130200/http://www.pepfar.gov/press/releases/2014/224403.htm |archive-date=March 25, 2015}} She described her role as ambassador to help meet the HIV prevention and treatment targets set by Obama in 2015 to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.{{cite news |last1=Birx |first1=Deborah |title=Harnessing the Data Revolution for an AIDS-Free Generation |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/harnessing-the-data-revol_b_9679528 |work=HuffPost |date=April 14, 2016}} Her role has focused on the areas of HIV/AIDS immunology, vaccine research, and global health issues around HIV/AIDS. As part of her work with HIV prevention, Birx created a program called DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe), a public-private partnership focused on reducing infection rates among adolescent girls and young women.{{cite news |title=Making the Dream to End HIV a Reality by Empowering Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Emerging lessons from the DREAMS partnership |url=https://www.popcouncil.org/news/making-the-dream-to-end-hiv-a-reality-by-empowering-adolescent-girls-and-yo |work=Population Council |date=June 15, 2018}} PEPFAR management under Birx came under scrutiny in a February 2020 audit conducted by the State Department's Office of the Inspector General, with leadership of the program being described as "dictatorial", "directive" and "autocratic."{{cite news |title=Audit of the Department of State's Coordination and Oversight of the U.S. President's Plan for Emergency Relief |url=https://www.stateoig.gov/system/files/aud-si-20-17.pdf |date=February 14, 2020 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318001459/https://www.stateoig.gov/system/files/aud-si-20-17.pdf |url-status=dead}}{{Primary source inline|date=May 2023}}

{{main|White House Coronavirus Task Force}}

On February 27, 2020, Vice President Mike Pence appointed Birx to the position of White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator. As part of this role, Birx reported to Pence on the White House Coronavirus Task Force.{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael |title=Who's on the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force: Dr. Deborah L. Birx |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/health/Trump-coronavirus-taskforce.html |work=The New York Times |date=February 29, 2020}} Pence called her his "right arm" on the task force.{{Cite web |first=Caroline |last=Kelly |title=Pence's 'right arm' on coronavirus response has lengthy experience battling HIV epidemic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/politics/who-is-deborah-birx/index.html|access-date=2020-07-19 |website=CNN |date=March 19, 2020 }} In televised briefings, Birx interpreted data on the virus, urged the public to practice social distancing, and tried to avoid publicly contradicting Trump, who frequently offered unscientific digressions.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-28 |title=Virus coordinator Birx is Trump's data-whisperer |url=https://apnews.com/ad29c4d8fd12aeb00bd05ad96708f325 |access-date=2020-07-19 |website=AP News}}{{Cite news |last=Baragona |first=Justin |date=2020-04-26 |title=Dr. Birx Waves Off Trump's Disinfectant Comments, Says 'This Was a Musing' |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/dr-birx-waves-off-trumps-disinfectant-comments-says-this-was-a-musing |access-date=2020-10-13}}

On March 26, 2020, Birx sought to reassure Americans in a press conference{{cite news |last1=Noack |first1=Rick |last2=Mettler |first2=Katie |last3=Knowles |first3=Hannah |last4=Armus |first4=Teo |last5=Berger |first5=Miriam |title=Coronavirus death toll in U.S. reaches 1,000 as number of confirmed cases passes China |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/26/coronavirus-latest-news/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 26, 2020}} that "there is no situation in the United States right now that warrants that kind of discussion [that ventilators or ICU hospital beds might be in limited supply] ... You can be thinking about it ... but to say that to the American people, to make the implication that when they need a hospital bed, it's not going to be there, or when they need that ventilator, it's not going to be there, we don't have evidence of that right now."{{cite news |last1=Schwartz |first1=Ian |title=Dr. Birx: Coronavirus Data Doesn't Match The Doomsday Media Predictions |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/03/26/dr_birx_coronavirus_data_doesnt_match_the_doomsday_media_predictions_or_analysis.html |work=Real Clear Politics |date=March 26, 2020}}

Birx led the creation of a reopening plan presented by Trump on April 16, 2020, with voluntary standards for states to end coronavirus lockdowns.{{Cite news |date=2020-07-19 |title=Inside Trump's Failure: The Rush to Abandon Leadership Role on the Virus - The New York Times |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-response-failure-leadership.html |access-date=2020-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719125827/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-response-failure-leadership.html |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Weiland |first2=Noah |last3=Lipton |first3=Eric |last4=Haberman |first4=Maggie |last5=Sanger |first5=David E.}}

During the state reopenings, Birx warned individuals to continue precautions against the virus, and opposed some non-essential activities such as professional haircuts. "You need to continue to social distance," she said on May 3, 2020.{{Cite web |title=Birx On 'Stay-At-Home' Protests: 'Devastatingly Worrisome' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/03/849786763/birx-on-stay-at-home-protests-devastatingly-worrisome |access-date=2020-07-19 |website=NPR |date=May 3, 2020 |language=en |last1=Slotkin |first1=Jason }}

In July 2020, a working group convened by Birx ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and instead send all COVID-19 patient information to a database at the Department of Health and Human Services. Some health experts opposed the order and warned that the data might become politicized or withheld from the public.{{Cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |date=2020-07-14 |title=Trump Administration Strips C.D.C. of Control of Coronavirus Data |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/us/politics/trump-cdc-coronavirus.html |access-date=2020-08-06 |issn=0362-4331}} Birx, who had criticized hospitals and the CDC for being slow to gather data, helped select the data firm Palantir to help run HHS's new system.{{Cite web |title=Who took down the CDC's coronavirus data? The agency itself. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/16/who-took-down-the-cdcs-coronavirus-data-the-agency-itself-367018 |access-date=2020-08-06 |website=Politico |date=July 16, 2020 |language=en}} She later joined Palantir's federal advisory board in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=Trump COVID coordinator Birx joins Palantir advisory board |url=https://www.federaltimes.com/govcon/2022/10/19/trump-covid-coordinator-birx-joins-palantir-contracting-advisory-board/ |work=Federal Times |issn=0014-9233}}

On August 2, 2020, Birx recommended that people living with someone vulnerable to COVID-19 consider wearing masks at home. She said that the United States was in a "new phase" of the coronavirus epidemic that was "extraordinarily widespread".{{Cite news |last=Carey |first=Benedict |date=2020-08-02 |title=Birx Says U.S. Epidemic Is in a 'New Phase' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/02/health/dr-birx-coronavirus-phase.html |access-date=2020-08-06 |issn=0362-4331}}

On August 10, 2020, Scott Atlas joined the White House, becoming President Trump's top COVID-19 advisor.{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Kaitlan |author-link=Kaitlan Collins |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/politics/scott-atlas-donald-trump-coronavirus/index.html |title=Trump adds coronavirus adviser who echoes his unscientific claims |work=CNN |date=August 12, 2021 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Avlon |first1=John |last2=Warren |first2=Michael |last3=Miller |first3=Brandon |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/politics/atlas-desantis-testing-covid-florida/index.html |title=Atlas push to 'slow the testing down' tracks with dramatic decline in one key state |work=CNN |date=October 29, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2021}} Afterward, Birx traveled to virus hot spots around the United States to work on mask mandates and social distancing guidelines with state and local officials. According to CNN, she told a friend that she aimed to take her message directly to the people and sidestep misleading messages disseminated by Atlas.{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Kate |last2=Cohen |first2=Elizabeth |date=October 29, 2020 |title=Birx cedes White House turf to Atlas while hitting the road to spread her public health gospel |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/politics/deborah-birx-task-force-scott-atlas/index.html |access-date=June 12, 2021}}

Birx visited Minnesota in August and October 2020.{{cite news |last=Olson |first=Jeremy |url=https://www.startribune.com/birx-urges-state-to-buckle-down-on-covid-19-before-winter/572269172/ |title=Birx urges Minnesota to 'buckle down' on COVID-19 before winter |work=StarTribune |date=August 31, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Bakst |first=Brian |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/08/30/birx-makes-mask-pitch-voices-concern-over-minnesota-covid19-trends |title=Birx makes mask pitch, voices concern over Minnesota COVID-19 trends |work=MPR |date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Read |first=Katy |url=https://www.startribune.com/in-rochester-birx-expresses-deep-concerns-about-covid-19-picture-in-minnesota/572857671/ |title=In Rochester, Birx expresses 'deep concerns' about COVID-19 picture in Minnesota: In Rochester, the White House's COVID-19 adviser sounded a dire alarm. |work=StarTribune |date=October 24, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2021}} While in Minnesota, she told Andy Slavitt that she hopes "the election turns out a certain way."{{sfn|Slavitt|2021}}{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Kaitlan |author-link=Kaitlan Collins |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/12/politics/deborah-birx-donald-trump/index.html |title=New book suggests Birx wanted Trump to lose presidential election |work=CNN |date=June 12, 2021 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Caroline |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/politics/birx-quitting-white-house-covid-task-force/index.html |title=Birx: I always considered quitting Trump's White House Covid task force |work=CNN |date=January 24, 2021 |access-date=June 12, 2021}}

In November 2020, an internal report from Birx stated in bold font: "There is an absolute necessity of the Administration to use this moment to ask the American people to wear masks, physical distance and avoid gatherings in both public and private spaces." The report also stated that confronting an emerging wave of the pandemic required "an aggressive and balanced approach that is not being implemented".{{Cite news |last1=Sun |first1=Lena H. |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |title=Top Trump adviser bluntly contradicts president on covid-19 threat, urging all-out response |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/02/deborah-birx-covid-trump/ |access-date=2020-11-21 |issn=0190-8286}} In December 2020, she warned that "The vaccine is critical, but it's not going to save us from this current surge", and that multiple approaches would be needed to fight the virus.{{Cite web |last=Reyes |first=Yacob |date=2022-07-29 |title=No, Dr. Deborah Birx didn't change her 'tune' on COVID vaccines |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/jul/29/facebook-posts/no-deborah-birx-didnt-change-her-tune-covid-vaccin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805121416/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/jul/29/facebook-posts/no-deborah-birx-didnt-change-her-tune-covid-vaccin/ |archive-date=2022-08-05 |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=PolitiFact |language=en-US}}

Birx was alternately praised and pilloried by various sides, both for her responses as well as the actions in general of the CDC as well as the coronavirus task force. Critics alleged that Birx minimized the dangers of coronavirus and downplayed equipment shortfalls. She had been the White House's chief proponent for the idea in April that COVID-19 infections had peaked and the virus was fading quickly,{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |title=Inside the Failure: 5 Takeaways on Trump's Effort to Shift Responsibility |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-failure-takeaways.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200719&instance_id=20443&nl=the-morning®i_id=65333603&segment_id=33788&te=1&user_id=3f9f326f3fbb4cdd48c16dc0088afe81 |access-date=July 19, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719135216/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-failure-takeaways.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200719&instance_id=20443&nl=the-morning®i_id=65333603&segment_id=33788&te=1&user_id=3f9f326f3fbb4cdd48c16dc0088afe81 |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |date=July 18, 2020}} when infections surged afterward.{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Derek |last2=Sonmez |first2=Felicia |title=Coronavirus updates: Trump dismisses rising cases as deaths mount |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/19/coronavirus-update-us/ |access-date=July 19, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719140640/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/19/coronavirus-update-us/ |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |date=July 19, 2020}} A board member at the American College of Emergency Physicians, Ryan A. Stanton, said Birx sounded like “the builders of the Titanic saying the ship can’t sink". Birx was also accused of squandering her credibility and bringing her independence into question with her public praise of Trump, whom many believed bungled the coronavirus response.{{cite news |last1=Weiland |first1=Noah |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |title=For Dr. Deborah Birx, Urging Calm Has Come With Heavy Criticism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/us/politics/deborah-birx-coronavirus.html |access-date=July 19, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327235010/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/us/politics/deborah-birx-coronavirus.html |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |date=March 27, 2020}}

In December 2020, Birx indicated that she would retire from government soon after Joe Biden assumed office, stating that she would "stay as long as needed and then retire" and that her tenure had "been a bit overwhelming" and was "very difficult on my family".{{cite news |last1=Forgey |first1=Quint |title=Deborah Birx eyeing retirement after Biden transition |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/22/deborah-birx-eyeing-retirement-449903 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |work=POLITICO |date=December 22, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Romo |first=Vanessa |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/22/949385834/deborah-birx-white-house-coronavirus-coordinator-to-retire-after-biden-transitio |title=Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Coordinator, To Retire After Biden Transition |work=NPR |date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2021}} Birx's announcement came after news broke that she hosted three generations of her own family from two households during Thanksgiving after she had urged Americans to restrict such gatherings to "your immediate household".{{cite news |title=Dr Deborah Birx: White House virus expert quits over holiday travel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55419954 |access-date=December 23, 2020 |work=BBC |date=December 23, 2020}} On January 20, 2021, her term ended.{{cite web |title=Deborah L. Birx, M.D. |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/deborah-l-birx-md/ |publisher=U.S. Department of State}} Afterwards, Birx stated that she often considered quitting her position as White House coronavirus response coordinator under the Trump administration due to the administration's hyper-partisanship, especially during the 2020 presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=Matthew |title=Birx says she thought of quitting the Trump administration 'always' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/22/deborah-birx-quitting-the-trump-administration-461471 |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=Politico |date=January 22, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Axelrod |first=Tal |date=2021-01-22 |title=Birx says she regularly considered quitting |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/535499-birx-says-she-regularly-considered-quitting |access-date=2021-01-23 |website=The Hill |language=en}} Birx also asserted that the Trump administration "censored" her "science-based guidance" and that she was also "being deliberately blocked" from appearing on national media outlets for a time.Newsweek, "Birx Says White House 'Censored' Her, 2020 Election Was Factor in Task Force's Reduced Role," January 23, 2021 [https://www.newsweek.com/birx-says-white-house-censored-her-2020-election-was-factor-task-forces-reduced-role-1563923]

In a July 2022 interview with Fox News, Birx said, "I think we overplayed the vaccines, and it made people then worry that it's not going to protect against severe disease and hospitalization. It will. But let's be very clear: 50% of the people who died from the Omicron surge were older, vaccinated. So that's why I'm saying even if you're vaccinated and boosted, if you're unvaccinated right now, the key is testing and Paxlovid. It's effective. It's a great antiviral. And really, that is what's going to save your lives right now if you're over 70, which if you look at the hospitalizations, hospitalizations are rising steadily with new admissions, particularly in those over 70."{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=Fox News |date=2022-07-22 |title=Dr. Deborah Birx says she 'knew' COVID vaccines would not 'protect against infection' |language=en-US |work=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/dr-deborah-birx-knew-covid-vaccines-not-protect-against-infection |access-date=2022-08-12}}

In March 2021, Birx joined the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, Texas, as a senior fellow, working on initiatives to reduce health disparities and prepare for future pandemics.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jordan |date=2021-03-12 |title=Deborah Birx to become fellow at George W. Bush Institute |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/542979-deborah-birx-to-become-fellow-at-george-w-bush-institute |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=The Hill |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Elizabeth |date=2021-03-12 |title=Deborah Birx, ex-White House COVID response coordinator, joins George W. Bush Institute in Dallas |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/03/12/deborah-birx-ex-white-house-covid-response-coordinator-joins-george-w-bush-institute-in-dallas/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=Dallas News |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313020407/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/03/12/deborah-birx-ex-white-house-covid-response-coordinator-joins-george-w-bush-institute-in-dallas/ |archive-date=March 13, 2021 }}{{Cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |last2=Brennan |first2=Margaret |title=Birx says there was no "full-time team" working on COVID response in Trump White House|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dr-deborah-birx-interview-trump-coronavirus-task-force-face-the-nation/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=CBS News|date=January 25, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Deborah L. Birx, M.D. {{!}} Bush Center |url=http://www.bushcenter.org/people/fellows/deborah-birx.html |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=Deborah L. Birx, M.D. {{!}} Bush Center |language=en}}

Birx lives with her parents, husband, and the family of one of her daughters in a multi-generational home.{{Cite news |last=Bass |first=Emily |title=Can Deborah Birx save us from the coronavirus? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/03/26/can-deborah-birx-save-us-coronavirus/ |access-date=2020-07-29 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Burgess |first1=Phil |title=Phil Burgess: Deborah Birx is the grandmother coordinating the White House response to coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/lifestyles/ac-cn-coluumn-phil-burgess-20200320-h2jkrartxzhobccelk7fujhmp4-story.html |work=Capital Gazette |date=March 20, 2020}} Birx's husband, Paige Reffe, is a lawyer who held managerial roles in the Carter, Reagan, and Clinton administrations.{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=S. M. |date=2020-04-03 |title=Deborah Birx's Husband Is Former Clinton 'Advance Man' Paige Reffe |url=https://heavy.com/news/2020/04/deborah-birx-husband-paige-reffe/ |access-date=2020-08-02 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Project on Transitional Democracy - Mr. Paige E. Reffe - Secretary |url=http://www.projecttransitionaldemocracy.org/bio_reffe_projecttransitionaldemocracy_171e65d6208696ffcaa9ac7a1b1c3fdd.html |access-date=2020-08-02 |website=www.projecttransitionaldemocracy.org |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027231023/http://www.projecttransitionaldemocracy.org/bio_reffe_projecttransitionaldemocracy_171e65d6208696ffcaa9ac7a1b1c3fdd.html |url-status=dead}}

• 1989: United States Department of Defense, Legion of Merit
• 1991: United States Department of Defense, Meritorious Service Medal, recombinant gp160 vaccine{{cite journal |last1=Redfield, MC |first1=LTC Robert R. |title=Therapy in HIV Positive Patients Using Recombinant GP160 Vaccine |journal=Army Research, Development & Acquisition Bulletin PB 70-91-6 |date=November–December 1991 |volume=91 |issue=6 |pages=36–37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yMZmGlzavwIC&q=Deborah+Birx-Raybuck&pg=PA36 |publisher=HQ, U.S. Army Materiel Command |language=en}}
• 2008: Federal Executive Board, Outstanding Manager
• 2011: African Society for Laboratory Medicine, ASLM Lifetime Achievement Award{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Corey |title=ASLM Commends Nomination of Dr. Deborah Birx as United States Global AIDS Coordinator |url=https://aslm.org/press-release/aslm-commends-nomination-of-dr-deborah-birx-as-united-states-global-aids-coordinator/ |website=African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) |date=January 10, 2014}}
• 2014: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, William C. Watson Jr. Medal of Excellence
• 2019: International Relations Council, Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship{{cite web |title=IRC Awardees |url=https://www.irckc.org/page/IRCAwardees |publisher=International Relations Council |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729064836/https://www.irckc.org/page/IRCAwardees |url-status=dead}}

{{Scholia}}

• {{cite journal |vauthors=Birx DL, Redfield RR, Tosato G |title=Defective Regulation of Epstein–Barr Virus Infection in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-Related Disorders |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=April 3, 1986 |volume=314 |issue=14 |pages=874–879 |doi=10.1056/NEJM198604033141403 |pmid=3005862}} {{Wikidata+icon|Q45837193|y}}
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Redfield RR, Birx DL, Ketter N, Tramont E, Polonis V, Davis C, Brundage JF, Smith G, Johnson S, Fowler A |title=A Phase I Evaluation of the Safety and Immunogenicity of Vaccination with Recombinant gp160 in Patients with Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection|journal=New England Journal of Medicine|date=June 13, 1991|volume=324|issue=24|pages=1677–1684|doi=10.1056/NEJM199106133242401|pmid=1674589|doi-access=free}} {{Wikidata+icon|Q45860645|y}}
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Wolfe ND, Heneine W, Carr JK, Garcia AD, Shanmugam V, Tamoufe U, Torimiro JN, Prosser AT, Lebreton M, Mpoudi-Ngole E, McCutchan FE, Birx DL, Folks TM, Burke DS, Switzer WM |title=Emergence of unique primate T-lymphotropic viruses among central African bushmeat hunters |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=May 23, 2005 |volume=102 |issue=22 |pages=7994–7999 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0501734102 |pmid=15911757 |pmc=1142377 |bibcode=2005PNAS..102.7994W|doi-access=free}} {{Wikidata+icon|Q24529110|y}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Rerks-Ngarm |first1=Supachai |last2=Pitisuttithum |first2=Punnee |last3=Nitayaphan |first3=Sorachai |last4=Kaewkungwal |first4=Jaranit |last5=Chiu |first5=Joseph |last6=Paris |first6=Robert |last7=Premsri |first7=Nakorn |last8=Namwat |first8=Chawetsan |last9=de Souza |first9=Mark |last10=Adams |first10=Elizabeth |last11=Benenson |first11=Michael |last12=Gurunathan |first12=Sanjay |last13=Tartaglia |first13=Jim |last14=McNeil |first14=John G. |last15=Francis |first15=Donald P. |last16=Stablein |first16=Donald |last17=Birx |first17=Deborah L. |last18=Chunsuttiwat |first18=Supamit |last19=Khamboonruang |first19=Chirasak |last20=Thongcharoen |first20=Prasert |last21=Robb |first21=Merlin L. |last22=Michael |first22=Nelson L. |last23=Kunasol |first23=Prayura |last24=Kim |first24=Jerome H. |title=Vaccination with ALVAC and AIDSVAX to Prevent HIV-1 Infection in Thailand |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |date=December 3, 2009 |volume=361 |issue=23 |pages=2209–2220 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa0908492 |pmid=19843557 |doi-access=free}} {{Wikidata+icon|Q29547531|y}}
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Abdool Karim Q, Baxter C, Birx D |title=Prevention of HIV in Adolescent Girls and Young Women |journal=Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes |date=May 2017 |volume=75 |pages=S17–S26 |doi=10.1097/QAI.0000000000001316 |pmid=28398993 |s2cid=42044853 |hdl=10413/15136 |hdl-access=free}} {{Wikidata+icon|Q30234865|y}}
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Raizes E, Hader S, Birx D |title=The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and HIV Drug Resistance: Mitigating Risk, Monitoring Impact |journal=The Journal of Infectious Diseases |date=November 15, 2017 |volume=216 |issue=suppl_9 |pages=S805–S807 |doi=10.1093/infdis/jix432 |pmid=29206999 |pmc=5853460 |doi-access=free}}
• {{cite journal |vauthors=Nkengasong JN, Mbopi-Keou FX, Peeling RW, Yao K, Zeh CE, Schneidman M, Gadde R, Abimiku A, Onyebujoh P, Birx D, Hader S|title=Laboratory medicine in Africa since 2008: then, now, and the future |journal=The Lancet Infectious Diseases |date=November 2018 |volume=18 |issue=11 |pages=e362–e367 |doi=10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30120-8 |pmid=29980383 |doi-access=free}} {{Wikidata+icon|Q56536201|y}}
• Birx, Deborah. Silent Invasion: The Untold Story of the Trump Administration, Covid-19, and Preventing the Next Pandemic Before It's Too Late. United States, HarperCollins, 2022. {{ ISBN|978-0063204232}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Slavitt |first=Andy |author-link=Andy Slavitt |title=Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response |publisher=St. Martin's Press |date=June 15, 2021 |isbn=978-1250770165}}

{{refend}}

• {{Include-USGov|agency=United States government|policy=https://2009-2017.state.gov/misc/87529.htm#copyright}}
• {{Source-attribution|[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/224406.htm Deborah L. Birx, M.D.]}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Das |first1=Pamela |title=Deborah L Birx: on a mission to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic |journal=The Lancet |date=November 2016 |volume=388 |issue=10060 |pages=2583 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32227-9 |pmid=27894655 |s2cid=36199963}}

{{Commons category|Deborah Birx|nowrap=yes}}

• [https://www.state.gov/biographies/deborah-l-birx-md/ Deborah L. Birx, M.D.] at United States Department of State
• {{C-SPAN|76734}}

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{{s-ttl|title=United States Global AIDS Coordinator|years=2014–2021}}

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Acting}}

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{{s-ttl|title=White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator|years=2020–2021}}

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{{COVID-19 pandemic}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birx, Deborah}}

Category:1956 births

Category:20th-century American physicians

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