Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declined to say whether he would fire the director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement for interfering when teen girls in government custody sought to have an abortion, though he said he “absolutely” had confidence in him.
Democrats have called for the firing of ORR director Scott Lloyd, who had tried to stop the girls from having an abortion, at least one of whom became pregnant as a result of rape. The cases, involving girls who arrived in the U.S. illegally, have triggered a string of lawsuits that have ultimately ended with the girls having an abortion.
“This is a gentleman who should be gone from this position. He is not a doctor. He is not a psychiatrist,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., speaking in a budget hearing Thursday.
She asked Azar directly whether he would fire Lloyd, but he declined to provide a yes or no answer, saying the director’s job involves helping with medical care. Ahead of the hearing, protesters had gathered outside of the hearing room with signs that read “Fire Scott Lloyd.”
Azar acknowledged he met with Lloyd and promised to “absolutely comply with the law and the Constitution as determined by the courts.” He said one of the jobs of the ORR director under was to coordinate care for children in the government’s care, which includes “providing serious medical care to children.”
“I have looked into this,” he said. “I don’t believe this is an issue involving Mr. Lloyd. We are charged by statute with looking after these children and their interest.”
Caitlin Oakley, HHS press secretary, said after the hearing that Azar stood by Lloyd.
“The Secretary was clear,” she said. “He stands behind Scott Lloyd.”
DeLauro pointed out that the courts had ruled in favor of the girls.
“Whether you like it or not, ideologically there is a law that says they have a right to health services and to legal and safe abortion,” DeLauro said.
Asked by reporters after the hearing whether Azar still had confidence in Lloyd, he replied, “Absolutely.”
Watch the exchange:
