History of Alex Azar in Timeline

Alex Michael Azar II served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump from 2018 to 2021. Prior to this, he held positions as an attorney, businessman, lobbyist, and pharmaceutical executive. Azar was confirmed by the Senate in January 2018 after being nominated in November 2017. He also briefly chaired the White House Coronavirus Task Force from January 2020 to February 2020, before Vice President Mike Pence took over.

June 17, 1967: Birth of Alex Azar

Alex Michael Azar II was born on June 17, 1967.

1985: Graduation from Parkside High School

Alex Azar graduated from Parkside High School in Salisbury, Maryland in 1985.

1988: Graduation from Dartmouth College

Alex Azar graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in government and economics from Dartmouth College in 1988.

1991: Graduation from Yale Law School

Alex Azar earned a J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 1991.

1991: Law Clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski

From 1991 to 1992, Alex Azar served as a law clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

1992: Law Clerk for Judge J. Michael Luttig and Start of Clerkship for Antonin Scalia

In 1992, Alex Azar clerked for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, after leaving his clerkship with Judge Kozinski. He also began his clerkship for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court.

1993: End of Clerkship for Justice Scalia

Azar concluded his term as a law clerk for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court in 1993.

1994: Associate Independent Counsel for Ken Starr

From 1994 to 1996, Alex Azar served as an associate independent counsel for Ken Starr in the Office of Independent Counsel, working on the Whitewater investigation.

1996: Work at Wiley Rein

Between 1996 and 2001, Azar worked for Wiley Rein, a Washington, D.C. law firm.

1996: End of work with Ken Starr

In 1996, Alex Azar finished his work as an associate independent counsel for Ken Starr.

1999: Start of Zyprexa Off-Label Promotion

Eli Lilly began promoting the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa for off-label uses in 1999.

August 3, 2001: Confirmation as General Counsel of HHS

On August 3, 2001, Alex Azar was confirmed as general counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

2001: Achieved Partner Status at Wiley Rein and Left the Firm

In 2001, Alex Azar achieved partner status at Wiley Rein before leaving the firm to join the Department of Health and Human Services.

2001: General Counsel of HHS

In 2001, Azar began serving as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources.

2003: Azar Praises China's Cooperation During SARS Outbreak

In 2003, during the SARS outbreak, Azar commended the Chinese government for their cooperation and interaction with U.S. health officials.

July 22, 2005: Confirmation as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services

On July 22, 2005, Alex Azar was confirmed as the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services.

2005: End of Zyprexa Off-Label Promotion

In 2005, Eli Lilly's off-label promotion of Zyprexa ended. The company later settled criminal charges related to this promotion.

January 2007: Resignation as Deputy Secretary of HHS

Alex Azar resigned as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services in January 2007.

June 2007: Hired by Eli Lilly and Company

In June 2007, Alex Azar was hired by Eli Lilly and Company as senior vice president of corporate affairs and communications.

April 2009: Vice President at Lilly USA

In April 2009, Alex Azar became vice president of Lilly's U.S. Managed Healthcare Services organization and its Puerto Rico affiliate.

January 1, 2012: President of Lilly USA

On January 1, 2012, Alex Azar became president of Lilly USA, LLC.

2012: President of Eli Lilly and Company's U.S. division

Alex Azar began his role as president of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly and Company in 2012.

January 2017: Resignation from Eli Lilly and Company

Alex Azar resigned from his position at Eli Lilly and Company in January 2017.

November 13, 2017: Nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services

On November 13, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Alex Azar for the position of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

2017: HHS Budget Reaches $1 Trillion

By 2017, when Azar was appointed Secretary of HHS, the department's annual budget had grown to over $1 trillion.

2017: End of Term at Eli Lilly and Company

In 2017, Alex Azar ended his term as president of Eli Lilly and Company's U.S. division.

2017: Prediction of Obamacare Repeal

In 2017, Alex Azar predicted the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

January 24, 2018: Confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services

The United States Senate confirmed Alex Azar as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 24, 2018.

January 29, 2018: Swearing-in as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Alex Azar was sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services by Vice President Pence on January 29, 2018.

May 2018: New Regulations at HHS

In May 2018, The New York Times reported that Alex Azar, unlike his predecessor, seemed to embrace writing new regulations at the Department of Health and Human Services.

December 2018: End of Term on Federal Commission on School Safety

In December 2018, Alex Azar's term on the Federal Commission on School Safety ended.

2018: Opposition to CDC Operations Reduction

In 2018, global health organizations opposed the Trump administration's plans to reduce the CDC's operations in several countries, arguing that these programs were crucial for national defense.

2018: Release of National Biodefense Strategy

The Trump administration, under the leadership of Secretary Azar, released the National Biodefense Strategy in 2018.

2019: Release of Global Health Security Strategy

The Trump administration released the Global Health Security Strategy in 2019, overseen by Secretary Azar.

January 3, 2020: Azar Learns of COVID-19 Threat

On January 3, 2020, Alex Azar first learned about the emerging threat of the novel coronavirus, later known as COVID-19.

January 2020: Chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force

In January 2020, Alex Azar became the chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

January 18, 2020: Azar Alerts Trump to COVID-19 Threat

On January 18, 2020, Azar informed associates that he had alerted President Trump about the potential danger of COVID-19, but Trump dismissed his concerns as "alarmist".

January 28, 2020: Azar Downplays COVID-19 Risk

On January 28, 2020, Azar publicly stated that the Trump administration had no plans to declare a public health emergency, asserting that the risk to Americans from COVID-19 was minimal.

January 29, 2020: Azar Assures Trump COVID-19 is Under Control

On January 29, 2020, Azar told President Trump that the COVID-19 epidemic was under control.

January 31, 2020: Azar Declares Public Health Emergency

On January 31, 2020, despite previous assurances of minimal risk, Azar declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

February 2020: Replacement as Chairman of the Task Force

Alex Azar was replaced by Vice President Mike Pence as chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in February 2020.

February 25, 2020: Azar Testifies on COVID-19 Fatality Rate

On February 25, 2020, Azar testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee, estimating the COVID-19 fatality rate to be between 1% and 2%, while acknowledging uncertainty due to potential underreporting of mild cases.

February 28, 2020: Wyden Questions Azar's Deployment of HHS Employees

On February 28, 2020, Senator Ron Wyden questioned Azar's decision to deploy HHS employees to meet with quarantined travelers in California, citing concerns about their lack of expertise, equipment, and training.

March 2, 2020: Azar Criticized for Unpreparedness

On March 2, 2020, Azar faced criticism for perceived unpreparedness in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly regarding the lack of widespread testing.

April 25, 2020: Reports of Potential Oust of Azar

On April 25, 2020, media outlets reported that the White House was considering removing Azar from his position due to dissatisfaction with his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 29, 2020: HHS Secures Remdesivir Treatment Courses

On June 29, 2020, the HHS, under Azar's leadership, agreed to purchase 500,000 remdesivir treatment courses for COVID-19 patients.

August 9, 2020: Azar Visits Taiwan

On August 9, 2020, Azar became the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit Taiwan in six years.

September 2020: Azar Restricts Health Agencies' Rule-Making Authority

In September 2020, Azar issued a memo requiring his personal approval for any new rules from health agencies, including the FDA, raising concerns about political interference.

October 2020: Public Health Emergency Renewed

In October 2020, the public health emergency declaration for COVID-19 was renewed.

2020: Azar Reveals Celiac Disease Diagnosis

In 2020, Azar publicly revealed his celiac disease diagnosis during a discussion on FDA gluten-free labeling rules.

January 12, 2021: Azar Announces Release of Vaccine Stockpiles

On January 12, 2021, Azar announced the release of remaining vaccine stockpiles, which were already depleted, leading to confusion and criticism from governors.