First Trump cabinet minister resigns over private jet hire

On September 29, US President Donald Trump accepted the resignation of Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price.

Mr. Price is the first member of President Donald Trump's government to resign. He resigned after a scandal involving the chartering of private planes for business trips.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has resigned. Photo: AP

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced that Secretary Tom Price submitted his resignation on September 29 and the President accepted it. President Donald Trump has appointed Don Wright as acting Secretary.

Wright is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and the Director of the Office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he is considering firing Price over the scandal over his use of private jets for domestic and international business trips and his use of government aircraft for personal use.

Last week, Politico reported that it had found 26 charter flights taken by Mr. Price, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, when commercial flights, which are less expensive, could easily be used in many cases.

On the afternoon of September 28, Mr. Price apologized, saying that he would refund the cost of the private flights, and from now on would only use regular passenger planes./.

According to VOV