Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Pick To Oversee Stimulus Vows To Be Impartial: 'If The President Removes Me, He Removes Me'
President Trump鈥檚 nominee to serve as the special inspector general for the Treasury Department鈥檚 $500 billion pandemic recovery fund vowed on Tuesday to be fair and impartial in his efforts to combat misuse of the bailout money, telling a Senate committee that he would resign if the White House pressured him to overlook wrongdoing. During two hours of intense questioning at his confirmation hearing, Brian D. Miller, who currently serves as a White House lawyer, tried to defuse fears that he would not be independent enough for the prominent oversight role and to alleviate concerns among senators and watchdog groups that he put Mr. Trump鈥檚 interests ahead of those of American taxpayers. (Rappeport, 5/5)
Brian Miller, a lawyer in the White House counsel鈥檚 office, told the Senate Banking Committee during his confirmation hearing that 鈥渋ndependence is vital鈥 for the special inspector general for pandemic recovery. The post would place him in charge of overseeing a roughly $500 billion Treasury fund for industry created as part of the economic rescue law approved in late March. In written testimony, Miller pledged to be vigilant in protecting the integrity and independence of his office and vowed 鈥渢o seek the truth in all matters that come before me and to use my authority and resources to uncover fraud, waste and abuse.鈥 (Daly and Jalonick, 5/6)
鈥淒o you plan to gain presidential approval before investigating contracts, issuing reports or communicating with Congress?鈥 Sen. Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto asked Mr. Miller in the hearing. 鈥淣o, senator,鈥 Mr. Miller replied. Asked if he would immediately notify Congress if the White House or any agency asked him to withhold information, Mr. Miller responded, 鈥淵es, senator.鈥 (Kiernan, 5/5)
Democrats have expressed deep skepticism that Miller, a White House lawyer since 2018, could be trusted to hold Trump accountable after the president purged several inspectors general (IGs) and dismissed two whistleblowers from their positions in his administration. (Lane, 5/5)
