Christi Grimm


Christi A. Grimm is the Principal Deputy Inspector General and acting Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Career

Grimm began her career at the HHS Office of the Inspector General in 1999 as a Program Evaluator. Grimm was the Chief of Staff and Deputy Inspector General for the Immediate Office of HHS from 2014 to 2019. As acting HHS IG, Grimm is a statutory member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, created in March 2020 to oversee funds released by the CARES Act and similar legislation.

Acting Inspector General

Grimm took over the Inspector General role in an acting capacity in January 2020 after the previous Acting IG, Joanne Chiedi, retired.
An HHS OIG report surveying the experience of hospitals from March 23 to 27 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States found "severe shortages" of COVID-19 testing supplies and "widespread shortages" of medical personal protective equipment, among other challenges. When asked about these findings at a White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing on April 6, 2020, President Donald Trump responded, "It's just wrong. Did I hear the word ‘inspector general’? Really? It's wrong. And they'll talk to you about it. It's wrong," and then asked reporters to find the name of the HHS IG, "Where did he come from — the inspector general? What's his name?... No, what's his name? What's his name?... If you find me his name, I’d appreciate it." Trump subsequently attacked the credibility of Grimm on Twitter on April 7, stating, "Why didn't the I.G., who spent 8 years with the Obama Administration, want to talk to the Admirals, Generals, V.P. & others in charge, before doing her report. Another Fake Dossier!"
On May 1, the White House announced that Jason Weida was being nominated as permanent HHS Inspector General, replacing Grimm as acting IG.