Trump selects GOP general counsel for HHS Inspector General
President Donald Trump has named a replacement for Christi Grimm, the former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Grimm was fired on Jan. 24, along with 16 others from her office.
Grimm’s role was temporarily filled by Juliet Hodgkins, who will now step down as Thomas March Bell takes over as the permanent inspector general. Bell, the current general counsel for House Republicans, has worked as a staffer for GOP politicians for decades.
Now it will be his responsibility to investigate and stop fraud, waste and abuse that negatively impact the American healthcare system. In part, he will be assessing federal health programs and contracts, acting as a watchdog for corruption.
Bell has worked on a number of Republican projects, often behind the scenes. Most relevant to healthcare, he was part of an investigative team that produced a report decrying Planned Parenthood’s alleged sales of fetal tissue.
During the first Trump administration, Bell helped create an official organization within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for the protection of “conscience and religious freedom.” This organization has since disappeared from the OCR’s website.
Before taking over as inspector general, Bell will need to face the Senate and clear a confirmation vote.
Meanwhile, Grimm still has a lawsuit pending, protesting her firing and that of her colleagues. She contends that the terminations were politically motivated and done without cause.
This is a developing story.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.