The Trump administration yesterday tapped Eric Hargan to be the new acting secretary of the U.S. Health & Human Services Dept. after the September ouster of Dr. Tom Price.
Hargan, formerly an attorney with Greenberg Traurig’s Chicago office, was last week approved as deputy secretary of the agency, which oversees the Medicare and Medicaid government health insurance programs.
Price resigned last month amid a flurry of criticism over chartered flights he took on the public dime to the tune of more than $1 million.
Hargan replaces Don Wright, who was named acting secretary after Price’s departure. His résumé includes various previous stints at HHS during the second Bush administration, including deputy general counsel, principal assoc. deputy secretary and acting deputy secretary. Hargan was also a member of the Trump HHS transition team, according to The Hill.
The U.S. Senate voted 57-38 to confirm Hargan for the number-two HHS spot, with seven Democrats and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) crossing the aisle to approve the nomination, the website reported.
