Trump science adviser Atlas leaving White House

Dr. Scott Atlas, a science adviser to President Donald Trump who was skeptical of measures to control the coronavirus outbreak, is leaving his White House post. A White House official confirmed that the Stanford University neuroradiologist, who had no formal experience in public health or infectious diseases, resigned at the end of his temporary government assignment.

Atlas joined the White House this summer, where he clashed with top government scientists as he resisted stronger efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 267,000 Americans. Atlas was hired as a "special government employee," which limited his service to government to 130 days in a calendar year — a deadline he reached this week.