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| Trump Chooses Alex Azar for Health and Human Services Secretary | Trump Chooses Alex Azar for Health and Human Services Secretary |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Trump nominated a pharmaceutical executive to be the next secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. | WASHINGTON — President Trump nominated a pharmaceutical executive to be the next secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. |
| The nominee, Alex M. Azar II, served as a deputy at the department under former President George W. Bush. Until January, he was the head of the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly’s United States division. | The nominee, Alex M. Azar II, served as a deputy at the department under former President George W. Bush. Until January, he was the head of the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly’s United States division. |
| Mr. Trump made his announcement in a Twitter post while traveling in Asia. Mr. Trump said Mr. Azar would be “a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices!” | |
| Mr. Trump’s first Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Price, resigned in September amid controversy over his use of chartered flights for government travel. | Mr. Trump’s first Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Price, resigned in September amid controversy over his use of chartered flights for government travel. |
| Mr. Azar worked for Eli Lilly for a decade, from 2007 to 2017, and in 2011 became president of the company’s United States division. | Mr. Azar worked for Eli Lilly for a decade, from 2007 to 2017, and in 2011 became president of the company’s United States division. |
| If he is confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Azar would be returning to a sprawling agency where he served as general counsel and deputy secretary under former President Bush. | If he is confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Azar would be returning to a sprawling agency where he served as general counsel and deputy secretary under former President Bush. |
| Since leaving H.H.S. in 2007, Mr. Azar has spent a decade in the pharmaceutical industry, working for the past five years as president of the American division of Eli Lilly, which is headquartered in Indiana. | Since leaving H.H.S. in 2007, Mr. Azar has spent a decade in the pharmaceutical industry, working for the past five years as president of the American division of Eli Lilly, which is headquartered in Indiana. |
| A longtime conservative, Mr. Azar worked as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the early 1990s, and worked for two years on the Clinton Whitewater investigation carried out by Kenneth W. Starr, the independent counsel. | A longtime conservative, Mr. Azar worked as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the early 1990s, and worked for two years on the Clinton Whitewater investigation carried out by Kenneth W. Starr, the independent counsel. |
| Mr. Azar’s nomination is likely to raise questions about Mr. Trump’s commitment to pressuring drug companies to lower prices in the United States. Last month, Mr. Trump accused drug companies of “getting away with murder” by charging more for their drugs in the United States than elsewhere in the world. | Mr. Azar’s nomination is likely to raise questions about Mr. Trump’s commitment to pressuring drug companies to lower prices in the United States. Last month, Mr. Trump accused drug companies of “getting away with murder” by charging more for their drugs in the United States than elsewhere in the world. |
| As president of one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Mr. Azar was a member of the board of directors at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the leading industry association for biotech companies. | As president of one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Mr. Azar was a member of the board of directors at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the leading industry association for biotech companies. |
| As the secretary of health and human services, Mr. Azar would be a key player in implementing Mr. Trump’s efforts to crack down on the prices that drug companies charge in the United States, making him responsible for going after the industry that he helped lead for a decade. | As the secretary of health and human services, Mr. Azar would be a key player in implementing Mr. Trump’s efforts to crack down on the prices that drug companies charge in the United States, making him responsible for going after the industry that he helped lead for a decade. |
| A graduate of Yale Law School, Mr. Azar is also likely to be a key part of continuing efforts by Mr. Trump and Republican allies to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. | A graduate of Yale Law School, Mr. Azar is also likely to be a key part of continuing efforts by Mr. Trump and Republican allies to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. |
| Representative Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont, criticized Mr. Trump’s selection of Mr. Azar to lead the agency charged with overseeing drug companies. | |
| “President Trump has railed against the pharmaceutical industry ‘getting away with murder’ on drug prices,” Mr. Welch said. “He promised the American people he would bring skyrocketing drug prices ‘way, way, way, down.’ But when given the chance to put his money where his mouth is, he brazenly nominated a former pharmaceutical executive to lead the agency charged with managing prescription drug costs. Instead of draining the swamp, he has set the fox to guard the henhouse.” | |
| Democratic senators also reacted skeptically to Mr. Azar’s nomination, promising to scrutinize his record for evidence that he would be soft on drug companies. | |
| “I am also interested in how, given Mr. Azar’s professional background, he believes he can fairly execute any significant effort to lower drug prices for patients,” said Senator Patty Murray, Democrat from Washington. | |
| Republican lawmakers vowed quick confirmation hearings and praised Mr. Azar’s experience. | |
| “The leader of H.H.S. will be at the tip of the spear, working to not only right the wrongs of this deeply flawed law but also ensure the long-term sustainability of both Medicare and Medicaid,” said Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, referring to the Affordable Care Act. “Mr. Azar has the experience, knowledge and fortitude to take on these daunting challenges.” |