ICYMI: HHS Chief Azar Stands By Refugee Director Lloyd Despite Increasing Reports of Incompetence
10.22.2018 – Earlier this evening, Politico published a scathing article which called the competence and fitness of Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director Scott Lloyd further into question, particularly as it related to his mishandling of the family separation crisis. From failing to keep a spreadsheet tracking separated families to disobeying a direct order to review hundreds of case files, Politico reports that “Lloyd made decisions that complicated reunifications.”
Despite the fact that “Lloyd was effectively removed from running his office” in mid-July, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar continues to stand by Lloyd, pandering to anti-abortion advocates who support Lloyd and laud his attempts to block young women in his care from accessing abortion.
Said Mary Alice Carter, Executive Director of Equity Forward:
“Not only does Lloyd have almost zero experience with refugee resettlement, it appears he couldn’t even do something as basic as create an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of children separated from their families.
“It has been clear to Equity Forward from day one that Lloyd was only appointed to his high profile role at HHS due to his anti-abortion background and unfortunately, children became the collateral damage of this unqualified appointee.
“By failing to fire Lloyd, an unqualified political hack, Azar continues to elevate the demands of a small group of anti-abortion interest groups over what’s best for families ripped apart during this humanitarian crisis. Azar and Lloyd must both be held accountable for their dire mismanagement of HHS.”
Equity Forward has long been sounding the alarm on the dangers Scott Lloydposes to the women and children in his custody, running a full page ad in the Washington, DC edition of the New York Times calling on Azar to fire Lloyd as well as weekly ads in The Northern Virginia Daily — Lloyd’s hometown paper — calling out Lloyd for refusing to show his face in public in the midst of the child separation crisis.
Equity Forward also maintains FireScottLloyd.org, which provides research on Lloyd and his out-of-touch views on women, reproductive rights, same-sex relationships, and immigrants.
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