This week in Washington

Trump appointed Pence to lead the United States' response to the virus. Behind him are, left to right, Robert Kadlec, assistant HHS secretary for preparedness and response; Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Pence; Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC; Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Stephen M. Hahn, commissioner for food and drugs at the Food and Drug Administration. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

Azar tells Congress the coronavirus is contained at the moment. He spoke during a hearing on the HHS budget before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Wednesday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Azar said the virus' risk to Americans remains low. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Azar testified during a House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill. "From a public health perspective, we are technically in a state of containment in the U.S.," he said. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a news conference at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday. Pompeo said the United States will begin to withdraw troops from Afghanistan if violence continues to diminish. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Pompeo also announced sanctions against 13 foreign entities and individuals in China, Iraq, Russia and Turkey for support of Iran's missile program. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Climate activist group Friends of the Earth participates in a demonstration against Dominion Energy's Atlantic Coast Pipeline in Virginia, at the Supreme Court on Monday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

The court is hearing oral arguments in U.S. Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Assn. and Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC v Cowpasture River Assn, which are attempting to stop the $7.5 billion pipeline that crosses the Appalachian Trail. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Climate protesters wear red robes similar to those worn by the "Extinction Rebellion" red brigade of statue-like demonstrations. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

The group's theatrical demonstrations have been seen around the world. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI