Minutes before the scheduled shutdown of COVIDtests.gov on February 19, 2025, the Trump administration unexpectedly reversed course and announced the government's free COVID-19 test program would continue operating. The decision came after internal debates about the fate of more than 160 million stockpiled tests valued at over half a billion dollars.
"With COVID-19 infections decreasing after a winter peak, we are in the process of regular discussions on closing this round of the COVID-19 test ordering program. At this point, the program is still open, and we will share additional updates as needed," stated Andrew Nixon, a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson, just 12 minutes before the planned website closure.
Program's Uncertain Future
The free test program has experienced a tumultuous history, with seven shutdowns since its January 2020 launch. Most recently, it was paused in March 2024 before reopening in September ahead of the winter respiratory illness season. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which maintains the test stockpile, had been considering two options: disposing of the tests or continuing distribution to American households.
Dawn O'Connell, who served as an ASPR chief during the Biden administration, noted that only a small fraction of the tests had expired, with tens of thousands still being ordered daily. "It's expensive to stockpile these tests," she told The Washington Post. "Destruction costs a significant amount of money, but hanging on to them costs a significant amount of money."
Public Health Implications
The reversal follows significant concerns from public health experts about losing a critical diagnostic tool during respiratory virus seasons and potential future COVID surges.
"Destroying an asset that was paid for by the American people, that doesn't make any sense," said Dr. Tom Inglesby, former White House national coordinator for COVID testing and current director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. He emphasized the importance of diagnostics in helping families make informed health decisions during outbreaks.
Dr. Ashish Jha, who led the White House COVID response under President Biden and now serves as dean of Brown University School of Public Health, described the potential destruction of tests as "an act of self-destruction" that would eliminate a valuable tool for addressing future variants.
Policy Shifts Under Trump Administration
The uncertainty surrounding the testing program reflects broader policy changes since President Trump returned to office. In his first days back, Trump rescinded many of former President Biden's COVID-related executive orders, including one aimed at expanding the national testing strategy.
Despite these policy shifts, the administration ultimately decided to maintain the program that has distributed more than 2 billion free tests since January 2020, including 900 million sent directly to households through COVIDtests.gov in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service.
Current COVID-19 Landscape
While COVID-19 cases have decreased following the winter peak, experts maintain that accessible testing remains essential for controlling infection. According to recent CDC data, approximately 4% of people testing for COVID received positive results as of March 1, representing a slight drop from previous weeks. Hospitalizations and deaths have also seen modest declines.
The FDA continues to recommend that individuals with COVID-like symptoms test multiple times to confirm their results, underscoring the ongoing importance of testing availability despite decreasing case numbers.
The decision to maintain the program provides continued access to free testing for Americans, though questions remain about the long-term future of the initiative under the current administration.
