Donald Trump Picks Dr. Mehmet Oz to Lead Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Trump Taps Dr. Oz to Head Agency Overseeing Health Insurance Programs
President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday tapped Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television talk show host and heart surgeon, to head the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans.
Oz’s Role and Responsibilities
As the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oz would report to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. If confirmed by the Senate, Oz would be responsible for the programs – Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act – that more than half the country relies on for health insurance.
Oz’s Background and Controversies
Oz has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products on his defunct TV show. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he pressured government officials to make hydroxychloroquine widely available, despite unresolved questions about its safety and effectiveness.
Trump Also Selects Howard Lutnick to Lead Commerce Department
Trump also selected Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department as he fills out his Cabinet.
Lutnick’s Role and Responsibilities
Lutnick will have a key role carrying out Trump’s plan to raise and enforce tariffs as commerce secretary. He is a cryptocurrency enthusiast and head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald.
Lutnick’s Background and Controversies
Lutnick has been an advocate for imposing wide-ranging tariffs, considering them an “amazing tool” for the president to use. He has also donated to both Democrats and Republicans in the past and has shared the stage with Trump at events.
Trump’s Transition Team
Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration.
Conclusion
The nominations of Dr. Oz and Howard Lutnick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Commerce Department, respectively, have sparked controversy and raised questions about their qualifications and potential impact on the country’s healthcare and trade policies.
FAQs
Q: What is Dr. Oz’s role in the Trump administration?
A: Dr. Oz has been nominated to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans.
Q: What is Howard Lutnick’s role in the Trump administration?
A: Lutnick has been nominated to lead the Commerce Department, where he will be responsible for carrying out Trump’s plan to raise and enforce tariffs.
Q: What are the concerns about Dr. Oz’s nomination?
A: Dr. Oz has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products on his defunct TV show and has pressured government officials to make hydroxychloroquine widely available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: What are the concerns about Howard Lutnick’s nomination?
A: Lutnick has been an advocate for imposing wide-ranging tariffs, which have been criticized by mainstream economists as an inefficient way for governments to raise money and promote prosperity.
