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Oklahoma Health Commissioner Gary Cox won't be getting a new SUV after all.

The Health Department was going to pay $27,239 for a 2020 Ford Explorer for the commissioner, according to a purchase order signed in January. The purchase was called off last week.

"The commissioner and many members of his team had originally been spending significant time on the road traveling around the state to local health departments," a spokeswoman for the Health Department said. "Given the ongoing COVID response, this has not been the case, and in light of state budget shortfalls, this PO was canceled."

The purchase order cancellation came Friday after a news story about the SUV in The Oklahoman sparked criticism of the commissioner.