Former DHHS chief made $37,000 in severance

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eyewitness News has learned the former chief of staff for North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services received more than $37,000 in severance after just one month on the job. Including the salary he made during his short tenure, Thomas Adams brought in more than $51,000.

That means he had already made more than 99 percent of the more than 16,000 full employees in the department did.

Last month DHHS and Gov. Pat McCrory came under fire for hiring two of the governor's former staffers. Both are 24-year-olds and have senior level jobs with the department, making more than $80,000.

Critics argue the two do not have enough experience for the jobs.

McCrory has defended hiring both.

WSOC