This file photo taken on May 22, 2017 shows US Health Secretary Tom
Price after delivering his speech on the opening day of the World Health
Assembly's (WHA) annual meeting in Geneva. He has resigned from his
position. PHOTO | FABRICE COFFRINI | AFP
WASHINGTON
President Donald
Trump's embattled health minister was forced to leave the US
administration Friday, amid a scandal over his use of costly private
jets for government travel.
"Secretary of Health and
Human Services Thomas Price offered his resignation earlier today and
the president accepted," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee
Sanders said in a statement.
The announcement came less
than an hour after Trump told reporters that Price had not offered to
resign, but that his fate would be decided later Friday.
"The
President intends to designate Don J. Wright of Virginia to serve as
Acting Secretary, effective at 11:59pm on September 29, 2017," Sanders
said.
SCANDAL
Wright is currently deputy assistant secretary for health.
Wright is currently deputy assistant secretary for health.
For days Price has battled to keep a position he has held for less than eight months.
In all, Price has flown on 26 separate trips this year on private aircraft, totalling some $400,000, according to Politico.
He had tried to put a lid on the scandal by paying back what turned out to be a fraction of the cash spent.
PERSONAL BUSINESS
The trips were for government business, Price's department said, but some of the flights were to destinations where Price owns property, or where he met relatives.
The trips were for government business, Price's department said, but some of the flights were to destinations where Price owns property, or where he met relatives.
Trump had earlier indicated that Price's job was hanging by a thread.
"We'll be announcing something today," Trump said, "I don't like the optics."
He added: "I'm not happy, I can tell you I'm not happy."
CULPRITS
Trump described the former congressman as "a very fine person", adding that for some cabinet secretaries it was not a problem because they have their own planes.
Trump described the former congressman as "a very fine person", adding that for some cabinet secretaries it was not a problem because they have their own planes.
Other cabinet secretaries, including Treasury's Steve Mnuchin are also accused of using private jets.
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