Final answer:
Initially, the Secretary of the HHS led the U.S. pandemic response task force in 2020, but leadership was transferred to then vice president Mike Pence. The response saw high turnover and the sidelining of experts, resulting in inconsistency in expert guidance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding HFD staffing and leadership during a crisis, the question of who the lead chief is could refer to the structure of the department's command in emergency situations. In the context provided, which refers to the U.S. government response to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the initial lead of the task force response was the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). However, leadership shifted and then vice president Mike Pence was officially charged with leading the White House Coronavirus Task Force. High turnover and the sidelining of experts such as Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci led to a lack of consistent expert guidance in key positions during the pandemic.