Slaoui confirmed on CNBC on Wednesday that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Trump administration on Tuesday. He will continue for 30 days to “ensure a smooth transition,” a Biden transition official told CNN.
Slaoui said in a call to reporters last week that he was in contact with the Biden government and that he had been asked to become a consultant when the transition took place, to which he agreed, CNN reported earlier.
It is common for a politically appointed person like Slaoui to retire as part of the transition from one government to another. It was not immediately clear whether the Biden government planned to appoint a successor.
During his appearance on CNBC, Slaoui mentions the success of Operation Warp Speed in getting two vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use and says that it is always his intention to return to private life as soon as it has been achieved. He said he has decided to extend his ‘term of office’ to support the new team as they come in. ‘
“As you know, I support this coming government and of course the operation and its mission, and I will do everything in my power to help them succeed,” Slaoui said.
Slaoui said he would continue to support the leadership of Operation Warp Speed in every way possible and expressed “hope and confidence” about the ability of the Biden government to take over the country’s vaccination effort.
It is not clear whether Genl. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, will not remain in his role.