Health and Human Services secretary to take more active public role in coming weeks
CBSN
President Biden on Friday phoned a man who, on paper, serves as one of the country's top federal health officials but, in reality, has kept a notably low profile as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage. In a recent phone call from the Oval Office, Mr. Biden told Health and Human Health Services Secretary Xavier Becerra that he is pleased with the former California congressman's oversight of the sprawling department, and that he looks forward to boosting secretary's profile in the coming weeks, multiple people confirm to CBS News.
"He just wanted him to know directly that he feels good about the work going on at HHS and that, going forward, he looks forward to working closely together," said one of the people, who, like other administration officials and lawmakers familiar with the situation, was granted anonymity to speak frankly about the conversation.
Another person familiar with the call insisted that the president reached out to Becerra "willingly" and not in response to recent news reports or under pressure from any particular constituency.
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