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Tanuki

(15,939 posts)
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 10:29 AM Jul 16

Trump-appointed NIH Chief Operating Officer fired in corruption probe

He was obviously unqualified for the position in the first place, but what else is new under the current regime?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025/07/15/nih-leader-fired-amid-contract-probe/

"A senior National Institutes of Health leader was fired Monday amid an investigation into a contract on autism and other topics that could have benefited his spouse, according to three officials familiar with the incident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A $3.3 million NIH contract to a Louisiana company, Argo Chasing, named Trish Duffy Schnabel, the wife of the NIH’s chief operating officer on its list of staff, according to the officials. The award, made in early July, supports work on several matters including autism, a topic that is a priority of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

On Monday afternoon, NIH’s chief operating officer, Eric Schnabel, was escorted out of the building just three months into his new job, according to the officials. An HHS spokesman declined to comment on a personnel matter.
....

Eric Schnabel joined NIH as chief operating officer in April after 25 years in the Army. In the email announcing his arrival, NIH director Jay Bhattacharya said Schnabel had held “pivotal security and operations roles within the Army, the Department of Defense and corporate America” and emphasized that he would play a key role at NIH in “detecting, deterring and responding to threats.”...(more)

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Trump-appointed NIH Chief Operating Officer fired in corruption probe (Original Post) Tanuki Jul 16 OP
Corruption doesn't usually get Trump appointees fired. Ocelot II Jul 16 #1
This is very interesting, indeed MagickMuffin Jul 16 #2
He was apparently working for a gym before he was tapped to head NIH Tanuki Jul 16 #5
Make America Corrupt Again (R) BoRaGard Jul 16 #3
I thought that got you promoted in this administration RockCreek Jul 16 #4

Ocelot II

(126,107 posts)
1. Corruption doesn't usually get Trump appointees fired.
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 10:35 AM
Jul 16

Maybe he wasn't giving the boss enough of a kickback.

MagickMuffin

(17,818 posts)
2. This is very interesting, indeed
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 12:41 PM
Jul 16


NIH director Jay Bhattacharya said Schnabel had held “pivotal security and operations roles within the Army, the Department of Defense and corporate America and emphasized that he would play a key role at NIH in “detecting, deterring and responding to threats.”




Corporate America, hmmmm, he has corporate interests. I guess it landed him outta of a federal government position.

And the REWARD money. What will happen with that?
Will the NIH demand to be reimbursed that $3.3 million dollars?

Grifters Oligarchs Pseudochristians GOP in a nutshell !




Tanuki

(15,939 posts)
5. He was apparently working for a gym before he was tapped to head NIH
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 02:30 PM
Jul 16

You can't make this 💩 up!

RockCreek

(1,039 posts)
4. I thought that got you promoted in this administration
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 01:08 PM
Jul 16

Who did he piss off? Not enough payoff to someone else?
Did he try to operate competently or ethically in other ways?

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