​A new report written by the U.S. government criticizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times and Business Insider reported.

The report, written by the US Department of Health, was released on Wednesday by Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC.

The document concluded that the CDC failed to fulfill its role in publishing clear, responsive and useful guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other comments concern the management of the institution, the retention of the best researchers and the overburdened bureaucracy.

“CDC and public health authorities have been preparing for COVID-19 for 75 years. In our big moment, our performance fell short of expectations,” Walensky said after the release of the report, which was compiled after discussions with the center’s 120 employees, nearly 10 percent of the center’s total.

Recommendations made by the CDC in the report

The document states that the institution should:

• use simpler language that doesn’t confuse or overwhelm the public, while also criticizing the CDC website for not being user-friendly enough

• speed up the process of scientific analysis and make data collected in the laboratory more accessible

• create data that can be used for action, not just for publication

• it is necessary to diversify the management and create a stock department

• improve employee retention and offer competitive salaries for in-demand positions in the private sector

• transfer money faster during emergencies

• reduce the burden

• collects more data from its various subsidiaries in the United States

“CDC is taking too long to release its data to make scientific decisions. The agency’s guidelines are confusing and overwhelming. The website is not easy to navigate,” the US government report said, among other things.