On January 12, 2021, Azar submitted his letter of resignation, effective January 20. Although he announced it as the customary resignation that all political appointees submit at the end of a presidential term, the resignation letter included commentary urging President Trump to promote a peaceful and orderly transition to the Biden presidency in view of the storming of the U.S. Capitol the previous week. COVID-19 lawsuit In 2022, Azar was co-defendant in a civil rights suit in the Ninth Circuit Court seeking to compel the CDC to publish mortality statistics in which COVID-19 was unequivocally the primary cause of death. Personal life Azar is an Antiochian Orthodox Christian and former Episcopalian. He is of Lebanese, Ukrainian, English, and Swiss descent. Before his nomination, he lived in Indianapolis with his wife and two children. Azar served for two years on the board of HMS Holdings. He is currently on the board of the American Council on Germany, where he is chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He has previously served on the board of directors of the Healthcare Leadership Council, where he was treasurer; the National Association of Manufacturers; and the Indianapolis International Airport Authority, where he was chairman of the Human Resources Committee. Azar is a Republican and has contributed to the campaigns of Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, Orrin Hatch, Lamar Alexander, Jeb Bush, and Donald Trump, according to OpenSecrets. In 2020, Azar revealed he has celiac disease while discussing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule related to gluten-free labeling for fermented foods. See also List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 1) List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 9) References External links Health and Human Services biography |- |- |- American people of English descent American people of Lebanese descent American people of Swiss descent American people of Ukrainian descent Businesspeople in the pharmaceutical industry Dartmouth College alumni Eastern Orthodox Christians from the United States Eli Lilly and Company people George W. Bush administration personnel People associated with Kirkland & Ellis Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States Pennsylvania Republicans People from Johnstown, Pennsylvania People from Koura District People from Salisbury, Maryland Trump administration cabinet members Trump administration personnel United States Department of Health and Human Services officials United States Deputy Secretaries of Health and Human Services