According to other knowledgeable sources, there is broader skepticism within the White House over how the CDC is compiling its data.
In a task-force meeting last week, officials relayed that Dr. Birx said she couldn’t trust the CDC’s numbers—on both case and death counts—because the reporting system it relied upon was flawed. She argued that the agency was likely overcounting. The Washington Post was the first to report on the meeting. Officials in the CDC said they were confused by the argument.