HHS Secretary Tom Price has been dogged by the controversy over the use -- and the cost -- of at least 24 chartered flights since he became secretary. To make amends he offered to pay for the cost of his seat on these flights: approximately $52,000.
However, that was a fraction of the total cost of the trips, which included the cost of seats for HHS staff who accompanied him.
As the Washington Post reported:
Politico, which first reported on Price’s repeated use of chartered jets, has estimated the total expense of the taxpayer-funded trips exceeded $400,000 — and it reported early Thursday evening that his White House-approved flights on military planes to Africa, Europe and Asia cost more than $500,000.
According to the same Washington Post article, Price announced late in the afternoon of Sept. 29 that he would resign.
The Hill ran portions of his resignation letter:
"I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first. I regret that the recent events have created a distraction from these important objectives," Price said in his resignation letter. "Success on these issues is more important than any one person. In order for you to move forward without further disruption, I am officially tendering my resignation," he continued.
His replacement was slated to assume Price's duties on Saturday, The Hill reported:
Don Wright, HHS's acting assistant secretary for health, will serve as acting secretary effective Saturday.