Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Deputy White House Chief Of Staff Tapped To Lead Office In Charge Of Tackling Opioid Crisis
The Associated Press: Trump To Nominate Jim Carroll As Next Drug Czar
President Donald Trump has tapped deputy White House chief of staff Jim Carroll to serve as the administration's next drug czar. Carroll's position as head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy will make him the most public face of the administration's efforts to fight the opioid epidemic — an effort critics say hasn't gone nearly far enough. (2/9)
The Washington Post: White House Official Nominated As Nation's Drug Czar
Jim Carroll would be the first Trump appointee to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Trump’s first pick, Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.), withdrew his nomination after The Washington Post reported that he was the chief advocate of a law that weakened DEA enforcement against drug manufacturers who aggressively peddled opioids. The office has been leaderless despite Trump calling the opioid epidemic one of his top priorities. He declared it a public health emergency in October, a designation that was extended last month. But the White House has offered no concrete solutions on how to solve the crisis, and little has happened in the months since the declaration was made. (Zezima, 2/9)
The Hill: Kelly Deputy Named Drug Czar
Trump's first nominee for that post, Rep. Tom Marino (R-Penn.), withdrew last year after it was revealed that he had helped guide legislation that critics argue makes it harder for the Drug Enforcement Administration to freeze suspicious shipments of opioids. (Greenwood, 2/9)
