Journalism website Politico was the first to break the story: Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price had chartered private and military jets for personal and business travel, at a cost of over $1 million for taxpayers. Now, after three weeks of coverage detailing how much Hhs Secretary tom price spent, he has officially resigned from his position.

Price promised to pay for his 'seat' on planes

While the former HHS Secretary had pledged to pay back the taxpayers for the cost of the chartered flights, that wasn’t without its own scandal. As Politico reporter Dan Diamond posted in a Tweet, Tom Price had only promised to pay back the cost of the literal seat he sat in on the plane, which would have been as low as $52,000.

On Wednesday, September 27, the New York Times reported that President Trump was "not happy" with the spending habits of the HHS Secretary. Already mired in a battle with the National Football League and being criticized for the situation in Puerto Rico, it was quite possibly far too many bad headlines for the new president. When Tom Price offered his resignation letter, Trump accepted it.

“I have spent 40 years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first,” the former HHS Secretary wrote in a resignation letter released by the White House, according to The Atlantic.

Tom Price added, “I regret that the recent events have created a distraction from these important objectives. Success on these issues is more important than any one person. In order for you to move forward without further disruption, I am officially tendering my resignation.”

Price's resignation one of many high-profile firings and resignations

The departure of Tom Price marks the latest high-profile departure in an administration not yet a year old.

In total, 19 officials within the Trump administration have either been fired or resigned, according to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. In contrast, Maddow reported on her Friday, September 29 show, The Rachel Maddow Show, only five officials had either resigned or been fired in President Barack Obama’s administration during the same time period.

Other notable departures include Sebastion Gorka, Steve Bannon, Sean Spicer and Reince Prebius.

Don J. Wright will take over as acting head of the agency until a new secretary can be nominated. He joins Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke, who replaced former Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly when he became Trump's chief of staff.

The departure of Tom Price now shines a spotlight on other cabinet officials who have also chartered private jets; chiefly Scott Pruit at the EPA, and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. Will they join the HHS Secretary? Only time will tell.
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