Tom Price Out at HHS
- By John Verhovshek
- In AAPC News
- October 2, 2017
- 2 Comments
Tom Price resigned Sept. 29 as secretary of Health and Human Services.
In recent weeks, Politico reported that Price had spent over $400,000 in taxpayer money for chartered flights (previous HHS secretaries have flown commercial). Politico also later revealed that the White House had approved the use of military aircraft to fly Price and his wife to Asia and Europe over the summer, at a cost of over $500,000.
Price, a vocal critic of government spending, expressed regret that “recent events”—unspecified, but presumably the controversy over his travel expenses—created a distraction from the “important objectives” of Health and Human Services under President Trump’s leadership.
“In order for you to move forward without further disruption,” Price wrote to the President, “I am officially tendering my resignation.”
Price’s potential replacement has not been named, yet.
John Verhovshek
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That was the OBAMA White House, NOT President Trump. I wonder why this writer did not specify that? I would bet if it were the other way around, he would have put President Trump in the headline.
It is irrelevant under which administration this spending occurred. Individuals possessing high rank and privilege have an ethical obligation to refrain from abuse of power. This story points to the hypocrisy that Mr. Price displayed as a vocal critic of government spending and possibly his desire to avoid scrutiny. His resignation may have been his best option given the circumstances.