Current US Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin is slated for an interview as a candidate to lead the Dept. of Health and Human Services, replacing recently resigned HHS Secretary Tom Price, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
VA Secretary Shulkin, a holdover from the Obama administration, is being considered among several candidates to replace Price who resigned late last month, according to the report.
The HHS is currently being led by deputy secretary Eric Hargan, a former Greenberg Traurig attorney out of the Chicago office who was assigned to the role last week.
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.
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