Birx Reveals She Will Retire Following Backlash To Her Traveling Over Thanksgiving Weekend

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx is planning on retiring after receiving criticism for a trip she made during the Thanksgiving weekend to winterize a vacation home. 

During an interview with Newsy, Birx said she will assist President-elect Joe Biden and his team during the transition process, and then she plans to retire after that.

“I want the Biden administration to be successful,” Birx said, adding, “I will be helpful in any role that people think I can be helpful in, and then I will retire.”

Birx continued to reference criticism she received after the Associated Press reported that she traveled with “three generations of her family” to a vacation home in Delaware to winterize it over the Thanksgiving weekend. At the same time, health officials urged Americans to avoid traveling for the holiday to helps stop the spread of the coronavirus.

“This experience has been a bit overwhelming. It’s been very difficult on my family. I think what was done in the last week to my family, you know they didn’t choose this for me,” Birx said.

She continued:

“My daughter hasn’t left that house in 10 months. My parents have been isolated for 10 months. They’ve become deeply depressed, as I’m sure many elderly have, as they’ve not been able to see their sons, their granddaughters. My parents haven’t seen their surviving son for over a year. These are all very difficult things.”