Alex Azar, shown in 2006 as deputy HHS secretary, has been nominated by President Trump to lead the agency.

Trump turns to drug industry for his new health secretary

WASHINGTON — Turning to an industry he’s rebuked, President Donald Trump on Monday picked a former top pharmaceutical and government executive to be his health secretary.

If confirmed, Alex Azar would oversee a $1 trillion department responsible for major health insurance programs, including “Obamacare,” as well as medical research, food and drug safety, and public health.