DeGette asks "Who's in charge?" as Trump administration deals with coronavirus outbreak

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette pressed hard on Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar about the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus Wednesday.

Azar was on a panel that testified about the deadly pandemic to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"Who's in charge?" DeGette asked, slightly raising her voice.

The Democrat from Denver noted that 14 Americans from a cruise ship in Japan were sent home this month, reportedly surprising and angering President Trump and other top officials, including Azar, who is in charge of the administration's coronavirus task force. The move also violated the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Azar told DeGette the decision had been made by the president's deputy chief of mission in Japan. He did not defend it.

"Someone should be in charge," DeGette told Azar, "and I think it should be you."

DeGette said the worry about such a worldwide outbreak has kept her up at night for years.

"Lo, here we are, and what I'm concerned about is we're still not any more prepared than we were on Dec. 4," she said, referring to when the outbreak was first reported.

She held up a 2015 biodefense plan created by the Obama administration. She asked Azar if he was aware of it, and he said he was not.

Wednesday even President Trump announced that Vice President Mike Pence would lead the administration's effort, which the Washington Post said also was news to Azar.