Trump names Hargan as acting Health and Human Services Secretary

[SACRAMENTO] President Donald Trump has formally designated Eric Hargan as acting secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, taking over for a deputy who's held the job since Tom Price resigned from the post late last month over his use of taxpayer dollars to travel in private jets.

Mr Hargan, a former corporate lawyer who served on Mr Trump's transition team, takes over for Don Wright, the deputy Health and Human Services secretary, who had been acting secretary since Mr Price was forced to step down after just seven months on the job.

Mr Hargan held various positions in the department, one of the largest government agencies, including deputy secretary, under President George W Bush.

Mr Price's departure left a hole in health-care policy leadership amid the ongoing fight over Obamacare. Republicans have failed twice to pass legislation that repeals and replaces the Affordable Care Act despite vowing to do so for the last seven years.

BLOOMBERG