Trump Nominates Chris Klomp As Deputy Secretary Of Health And Human Services
President Trump announced on Thursday, June 25, 2026, that he will nominate Chris Klomp to serve as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, placing him near the top of the agency's leadership.[1]
Trump said the decision was made jointly with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz.[1] Klomp currently serves as HHS chief counselor, CMS deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare.[1] Trump called Klomp "a potential STAR" and highlighted his work on the administration's Most Favored Nation drug pricing policy.[1]
In April 2025, Klomp was named director of the Center for Medicare and deputy administrator at CMS. He led negotiations on the administration's Most Favored Nation drug pricing policy, including a September 2025 deal with Pfizer. In February 2026, he was elevated to chief counselor at HHS and began overseeing day-to-day operations across the department.
Sen. Bill Cassidy welcomed the nomination and said he looks forward to Klomp laying out his vision during upcoming Senate committee hearings. Some market watchers and commentators noted Klomp's ties to the drug-pricing policy could reverberate for drugmakers and insurers if his rise to HHS leadership is confirmed.
The mainstream summary does not address the significant issue of improper payments within Medicare and Medicaid, which totaled an estimated $186 billion in fiscal year 2025, highlighting a systemic problem that Klomp will need to confront if confirmed. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported that improper payments alone accounted for nearly $28.83 billion in Medicare Fee-for-Service and $37.39 billion in Medicaid, indicating a critical area of oversight that Klomp's leadership will impact significantly.[2]
Additionally, while the summary emphasizes Klomp's role in drug pricing policy, it overlooks broader implications for the healthcare market, particularly how his connections to the Most Favored Nation policy could influence drug prices and the financial health of pharmaceutical companies. Market observers have raised concerns about how Klomp's ascent might reverberate through drugmakers and insurers, a nuance that adds depth to the implications of his nomination.[3]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📊 Relevant Data
In fiscal year 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimated improper payments of $28.83 billion in Medicare Fee-for-Service, $23.67 billion in Medicare Part C, $4.23 billion in Medicare Part D, and $37.39 billion in Medicaid.
Federal government improper payments totaled an estimated $186 billion in fiscal year 2025, with healthcare programs accounting for more than half.
In fiscal year 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services had $3.38 trillion in total budgetary resources.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — USAspending.gov
📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, June 25, 2026, President Trump announced he will nominate Chris Klomp as HHS deputy secretary.
- Trump said the decision was made jointly with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.
- Klomp currently holds senior roles including chief counselor at HHS, CMS deputy administrator, and director of the Center for Medicare.
- Trump highlighted Klomp's work on the administration's "Most Favored Nation" drug pricing policy in the announcement.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time