Trump announces Hargan as new acting HHS secretary

President Trump announced a new acting secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Eric Hargan, who the Senate confirmed last week to fill the No. 2 position within HHS.

Hargan will fill the post vacated by Tom Price, who came under fire and resigned late last month as HHS secretary after a series of Politico articles reported his use of private and government planes for travel cost taxpayers more than $1 million.

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After the resignation, Don Wright — a career official at HHS — took over as acting HHS secretary. Trump announced late Tuesday that Hargan will now fill that role and head the department charged with implementing ObamaCare, a law Trump has said is failing and Republicans failed to repeal and replace this year.

Hargan was previously a lawyer in Chicago. He served at HHS in the Bush administration, holding various positions, such as deputy general counsel, principal associate deputy secretary and acting deputy secretary. He was also part of Trump’s HHS transition team.

Last week, the Senate voted largely along party lines, 57-38, to confirm Hargan. Seven Democrats and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) supported the nomination.