Trump boots Obama surgeon general, replaces with deputy nurse

President Donald Trump has appointed Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams as acting U.S. Surgeon General after asking for the resignation of former President Barack Obama's surgeon general Vivek H. Murthy on Friday.

Murthy was asked to step down after "after assisting in a smooth transition into the new Trump administration," Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Alleigh Marré said, according to the New York Times. She said Murthy was still a member of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service.

Deputy U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams has been appointed acting U.S. Surgeon General by President Donald Trump. She is one of the first nurses to hold the position.

But the Times reported Murthy's wife said on Saturday that her husband was fired after he refused to resign.

Trent-Adams, who was Deputy Surgeon General under Murthy, is one of the first nurses to serve as U.S. Surgeon General. She also served as Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps from November 2013 through May of 2016.

Cox Media Group