Alex Azar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alex Azar
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Official portrait, 2019
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| 24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
| In office January 29, 2018 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Eric Hargan |
| Preceded by | Tom Price |
| Succeeded by | Xavier Becerra |
| 1st Chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force | |
| In office January 29, 2020 – February 26, 2020 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Mike Pence |
| United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
| In office January 22, 2005 – February 4, 2007 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Claude Allen |
| Succeeded by | Tevi Troy |
| General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services | |
| In office August 8, 2001 – January 22, 2005 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Harriet S. Rabb |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Meron |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alex Michael Azar II
June 17, 1967 Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) Yale University (JD) |
Alex Michael Azar II (born June 17, 1967) is an American lawyer and businessman. He served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2018 to 2021. This is a very important role in the government, focusing on the health and well-being of people in the United States.
He was also the first chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. This group was created in January 2020 to help the country deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before working for the government, Azar was a leader at Eli Lilly and Company. This is a large company that makes medicines.
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Early Life and Education
Alex Azar was born on June 17, 1967, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His father was an eye doctor. Azar's family has roots in Lebanon.
He went to Parkside High School in Salisbury, Maryland. After high school, he studied government and economics at Dartmouth College. He graduated in 1988 with high honors.
Later, he earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1991. While there, he was part of the executive committee for the Yale Law Journal.
Career in Law and Government
Early Legal Work
After law school, Alex Azar worked as a law clerk for important judges. From 1991 to 1992, he worked for Judge Alex Kozinski. Then, he worked for Judge J. Michael Luttig.
From 1992 to 1993, he was a law clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia at the United States Supreme Court. This is one of the highest legal positions a young lawyer can have.
Working for Health and Human Services
In 2001, Azar became the general counsel for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This department is in charge of many health programs and services in the U.S.
As general counsel, he helped the department respond to important health events. These included the 2001 anthrax attacks and outbreaks of diseases like SARS.
In 2005, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. In this role, he helped manage the daily operations of the entire HHS department. He worked on improving government performance and encouraging new ideas in medicine. He left this position in 2007.
Time at Eli Lilly and Company
In 2007, Azar joined Eli Lilly and Company, a major drug company. He first worked as a senior vice president, dealing with public relations.
By 2012, he became the president of Lilly USA, which is the company's biggest division in the United States. During his time there, the prices of some medicines, including insulin, increased significantly. Eli Lilly was also fined in Mexico for issues related to insulin pricing.
He left Eli Lilly in 2017.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Becoming Secretary
In November 2017, President Donald Trump announced he would nominate Alex Azar to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Some people were concerned about his nomination because of his past work at Eli Lilly and his views on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). However, he was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 24, 2018, and officially started his role on January 29, 2018.
Key Policies and Actions
As Secretary, Azar worked on several important health policies:
- National Biodefense Strategy: He oversaw the release of a plan in 2018 to protect the country from biological threats.
- Affordable Care Act: He was known for wanting to change parts of the Affordable Care Act.
- Regulations: He focused on creating new health regulations to improve the system.
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Responding to COVID-19
Early Warnings and Actions
Alex Azar learned about the coronavirus threat in early January 2020. He told President Trump about the potential danger, but at first, the president thought he was being "alarmist."
On January 28, 2020, Azar said the risk to Americans was small. However, he also said that authorities in many states were watching for possible cases. He stated he would take action if needed to protect Americans.
Two days later, on January 31, 2020, Azar declared a public health emergency for COVID-19. This allowed the government to use more resources to fight the virus.
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Working with the CDC
As Secretary, Azar was in charge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This agency is key to stopping the spread of diseases.
In January 2020, Azar asked China to let a CDC team visit to learn more about the virus. He also increased screenings for travelers coming into the U.S. at airports.
Funding and Testing
Azar asked Congress for money to deal with the pandemic. Some lawmakers felt the amount he asked for was not enough.
He also faced criticism about the lack of widespread testing for the virus in the U.S. compared to other countries.
Vaccine Development
Azar believed that drug companies were best suited to find and make a vaccine for the coronavirus. He said that while a vaccine might be expensive, it was important to create one.
In January 2021, Azar announced that HHS would release all remaining vaccine supplies to states. However, it turned out that these supplies had already been used up, causing confusion.
Taiwan Visit
In August 2020, Azar visited Taiwan. He was the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit Taiwan in six years. The trip was meant to show U.S. support for Taiwan's leadership in global health.
Resignation
On January 12, 2021, Azar submitted his resignation letter. He officially left his role on January 20, 2021, as the Trump administration ended. In his letter, he encouraged a peaceful transfer of power after the events at the U.S. Capitol.
After leaving office, China placed sanctions on Azar and other former Trump officials. This means they cannot travel to China or do business there.
Personal Details
Alex Azar is an Antiochian Orthodox Christian. He has Lebanese, Ukrainian, English, and Swiss family roots.
Before his government role, he lived in Indianapolis with his wife and two children. He has served on the boards of several organizations, including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
He has celiac disease, which means he cannot eat gluten.
Political Involvement
Azar is a member of the Republican Party. He has supported the political campaigns of several Republican leaders.
See also
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 1)
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 9)
