U.S. President Trump Nominates Former HHS Deputy Secretary Alex Azar As Agency’s Next Secretary

The Hill: Trump nominating Azar as next HHS secretary
“President Trump on Monday tapped Alex Azar for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), a role vacated by Tom Price in late September amid revelations that Price took repeated trips on government and private jets that cost taxpayers more than $1 million…” (Roubein, 11/13).

New York Times: Trump Chooses Alex Azar for Health and Human Services Secretary
“…The nominee, Alex M. Azar II, served as a deputy at the department under former President George W. Bush. Until January, he was the head of the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly’s United States division. Mr. Trump made his announcement in a Twitter post while traveling in Asia. Mr. Trump said Mr. Azar would be ‘a star and lower drug prices!’…” (Sullivan/Shear, 11/13).

Washington Post: Trump picks Alex Azar to lead the Health and Human Services Department
“…The decision to enlist the 50-year-old Azar — who served as president of Lilly USA, the biggest affiliate of Eli Lilly and Co., before stepping down in January to work as a health care consultant — represents a pragmatic pick. An establishment figure with a reputation as a conservative thinker and methodical lawyer, Azar would be expected to use his experience as HHS general counsel and deputy secretary to pursue Trump’s goals through executive action…” (Eilperin/Goldstein, 11/13).

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