On Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Tom Price, MD, tendered his resignation to President Donald Trump after stirring public outrage by amounting over $400,000 in publicly funded chartered flights just over nine months into his term.
In his resignation letter to the President, Price said, “I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first. I regret that the recent events have created a distraction from these important objectives. Success on these issues is more important than any one person. In order for you to move forward without further disruption, I am officially tendering my resignation.”
Price, an orthopedic surgeon and a six-term congressman representing the northern Atlanta suburbs, began his term with a vision of reducing the federal government’s role in health care. He leaves his office after multiple failed attempts by Republicans in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
He will be succeeded temporarily by Don J. Wright, Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. A permanent successor has yet to be named to lead the department; however, front-runners for the position, including Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, are beginning to emerge.
Photo: President Donald Trump shares a laugh with Ms. Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Secretary Tom Price, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; and Vice President Mike Pence. (March 15, 2017 – Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
