White House wishes Birx well after she announces retirement

The White House wished coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx well after she announced her plans to retire on Tuesday.

“President @realDonaldTrump has great respect for Dr. Birx and likes her very much. We wish her well,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted on Tuesday.

President @realDonaldTrump has great respect for Dr. Birx and likes her very much. We wish her well!

— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) December 22, 2020

Birx was brought on to serve as coordinator of the task force in March, and was often present alongside other health officials at regular briefings until they were largely stopped in May.

In an interview with Newsy on Tuesday, Birx said she would help President-elect Joe Biden’s administration “for a period of time,” but that she wanted to retire.

She said her experience on the White House coronavirus task force was overwhelming, adding that she regretted her family members being “dragged into it.”

The Associated Press reported that Birx traveled with members of her family to Delaware over the Thanksgiving holiday despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending against travel.  Birx said she traveled to winterize a property and sell it.

Biden has not said whether he wants Birx to have a role on his coronavirus team when he takes office next month. He has asked Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, to serve as chief medical adviser.