Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigns

After coming under fire for chartering expensive private jets and flying abroad on taxpayer-funded military planes totaling more than $1 million, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has resigned.

According to a statement from the White House, Price "offered his resignation earlier today and the President accepted."

"The President intends to designate Don J. Wright of Virginia to serve as Acting Secretary," the statement continues, "effective at 11:59 p.m. on September 29, 2017.  Mr. Wright currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion."

On Sept. 27, when asked if he intended to fire Price, President Donald Trump told reporters, "We'll see." He also said he is "not happy" with his cabinet members' practices of lavish travel on the government's dime. By Friday, the president said the controversy surrounding Price's expensive travel were "a distraction."

After nearly a week of public outcry about his chartered planes, Price vowed to repay the Treasury for "his seats" on the private jets. Soon after, however, documents revealed that Price would only repay roughly $52,000 of his chartered private flights -- a fraction of the government dollars he spent on them.

"You may rest assured that I will continue to support your critical priorities going ahead because failure is not an option for the American people,” Price said in his resignation letter. 

Prior to joining the Trump administration, Price served as a Congressman for Georgia's 6th congressional district from 2005-2017.