WASHINGTON, DC — A career government scientist says decision-makers have a limited window to ramp up the federal response to the novel coronavirus. Dr. Rick Bright alleges he was pushed out of his role for disagreeing with the Trump administration on strategy and that lives were lost as a result.

The ousted federal vaccine chief testified before a House subcommittee Thursday, telling lawmakers time is running out to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall.

"Our window of opportunity is closing. If we fail to improve our response now based on science, I fear the pandemic will be worse and prolonged," said Bright.

"It will be greatly compounded by the challenges of seasonal influenza. Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history," he forecasted.

Bright claims he was sidelined from his director role in the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority when he opposed using the drug hydroxychloroquine in coronavirus patients.

"I believe part of the removal process for me was initiated because of pushback that I gave when they asked me to put in place an expanded access protocol that would make chloroquine more freely available to Americans that were not under the close supervision of a physician and may not even be confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus," said Bright.

House Democrats seized on Bright's argument, using his testimony as an illustration of what they characterize as the Trump administration's frenetic response to the global pandemic. But House Republicans argue they need more information from Bright and that he should have come to Congress sooner. 

"The 33 exhibits that are not made public that are referenced in your complaint, would you make those available to the committee," pressed Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky. "Would you make all of the complete available e-mail chains to us?" Guthrie asked.

"When Dr. Bright was removed from his position, he was locked out of his email," said Deborah Katz, Bright's attorney as she sat next to him at the hearing.

Bright also spoke of the need to establish a supply chain for vaccines and a strategy for distribution once one is developed.

"​We still do not have a standard centralized coordinated plan," said Bright.