A government scientist says he was ousted from his position after raising concerns that the Trump administration wanted to flood coronavirus hot spots like New York and New Jersey with a malaria drug that President Donald Trump was pushing despite scant scientific evidence it helped, according to AP.

Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, filed the complaint on Tuesday with the Office of Special Counsel, a government agency responsible for whistleblower complaints. He alleges he was reassigned to a lesser role because he resisted political pressure to allow the widespread use of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug favoured by Trump.

Bright also said the Trump administration rejected his warnings on Covid-19. Bright said he acted with urgency to address the growing spread of Covid-19 after the World Health Organization issued a warning in January.