WASHINGTON — Charmaine Yoest, the top communications official at the Department of Health and Human Services, is leaving HHS for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, three sources with knowledge of the move told STAT.
She is the latest administration official to leave for the drug policy office, which has seen significant staff turnover throughout the year and especially following the withdrawal of Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) from the confirmation process to lead the agency.
Yoest began at HHS under former secretary Tom Price, whose undoing came after a series of reports about his extensive use of taxpayer dollars for private jet travel. Her appointment at HHS drew complaints from the left in part because of her views on abortion and her past work at the Family Research Council and other conservative groups.
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I think director of ONDCP should have been personally touched by addiction. A budget expert hired for this position appears to be out of touch with what these families face with addiction.