Washington Post: Dr. Vivek Murthy To Be Named General, With Expanded Role
On Thursday evening, December 3, the Washington Post’s Toluse Olorunnipa and Amy Goldstein broke the news that Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., who served as U.S. Surgeon General of the United States under President Barack Obama from December 2014 through April 2017, will once again be named U.S. Surgeon General under President-elect Joe Biden. At the same time, President-elect Biden confirmed to CNN that he has asked Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and a key member of the Coronavirus Task Force created by the Trump administration, to stay on in that role and to help lead his COVID-19 effort going forward, once he becomes President on January 20, 2021.
Olorunnipa and Goldstein wrote that “President-elect Joe Biden has selected a close adviser to help lead the nation's response to the coronavirus crisis, tapping a veteran of the Obama administration to serve as America's top doctor as the country suffers from a surging pandemic. Vivek H. Murthy, a former U.S. surgeon general, has been asked to reprise the role in an expanded version in the new administration, according to an individual familiar with the decision. Murthy is expected to be part of a team of health-care officials charged with tackling the issue Biden has said would be his top priority upon taking office, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because decisions have not been officially announced.”
And, they wrote, “On Thursday, Biden told CNN that Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, would serve as a chief medical adviser and help his administration with its coronavirus response plan. Fauci, who served on President Trump’s coronavirus task force, has been attacked by the president in recent months as he has contradicted the White House’s message that the pandemic is under control and on the verge of disappearing.”
Olorunnipa and Goldstein also reported that “Murthy may also receive a White House title, beyond his surgeon general position, to signify that he is a central member of the team battling the pandemic, according to a person familiar with the matter, who said it was possible Murthy and Zients could be designated co-leaders of the effort.” Murthy had reportedly also been under consideration as the nominee Health and Human Services Secretary. Press reports have indicated that President-elect Biden continues to weigh whom to nominate as HHS Secretary.