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Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks next to President Donald Trump during a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 6, 2020. JIM WATSON/Getty Images Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. The White…

The Trump administration is pushing back after multiple reports indicated that the White House is considering removing Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.A Politico article citing four sources familiar with the situation said the potential development comes after Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Director Rick Bright was controversially transferred to the National Institutes…

Administration officials are discussing replacing Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar following criticism of his management of the early response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to six people familiar with the discussions. It remains unclear if Mr. Azar will be ousted and in what timeline that might occur. Administration officials said the White House…

“The Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Secretary Azar, continues to lead on a number of the President’s priorities. Any speculation about personnel is irresponsible and a distraction from our whole-of-government response to COVID-19,” said deputy press Secretary Judd Deere in a statement Saturday. An HHS spokesperson said that "Secretary Azar…

WASHINGTON — After nearly 50 coronavirus press briefings in March and April, President Donald Trump’s aides and allies are increasingly worried that his lengthy appearances are backfiring politically and White House officials say they are evaluating whether to reduce his participation in news conferences in the weeks to come.Concerns that the briefings are hurting the…