Lamar Alexander urges Trump administration to not appoint opioid 'czar'

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said he opposes having President Trump appoint an “opioid czar” to oversee efforts to tackle the epidemic, saying instead the job should fall to the health and human services secretary.

“Some are now saying we need an opioid czar, and I hope you will join me in advising the president that this is a terrible idea,” Alexander, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said to Alex Azar during his hearing for the role as HHS secretary.