Trump’s Pick for Health Department Watchdog Confirmed by Senate

The US health department will have a new watchdog after the Senate Thursday confirmed Thomas Bell despite concerns from Democrats that he’s a partisan with a controversial past.

Bell will now lead the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, a role that became vacant when President Donald Trump fired the former IG, Christi Grimm, along with several other watchdogs.

Democrats frequently raised concerns during Bell’s confirmation process that the OIG role wasn’t technically open, since Trump fired Grimm and the other IGs without providing notice to both houses of Congress with reasons for the dismissal. ...