Robert Gordon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, abruptly resigned on Friday.
Today, I am resigning from the Whitmer Administration. It's been an honor to serve alongside wonderful colleagues. I look forward to the next chapter.
— Robert Gordon (@robertmgordon) January 22, 2021
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“Today, I am resigning from the Whitmer Administration,” Gordon tweeted at 2:52 p.m. Friday. “It’s been an honor to serve alongside wonderful colleagues. I look forward to the next chapter.”
UPDATE: Elizabeth Hertel named new Michigan health director, Gov. Whitmer announces
Gordon and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun have been the faces of MDHHS throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Gordon has often been present at Whitmer’s briefings and most recently participated in a virtual update Tuesday.
Most notably, Gordon has helped make recent announcements about MDHHS restrictions designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. The department issued a “pause” in mid-November, and it has been extended and revised several times, including Friday morning.
Gordon stood by the science of the restrictions throughout his tenure, saying COVID-19 is most likely to spread in settings such as restaurants, where people from different households gather indoors and remove their masks to eat.