President Trump Names Chris Klomp as HHS Deputy Secretary

On June 26, 2026, President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Chris Klomp to serve as the deputy secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Klomp, who has been the Medicare director since April 2025, will become the second‑in‑command of a department that oversees a wide range of public health programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, disease control, and food and drug regulation.

The deputy secretary role involves managing the department’s operations and shaping regulatory policy. In the announcement, Trump praised Klomp’s experience, noting that “HHS is a massive and complex organization, but Chris knows exactly how to run it.” Klomp’s nomination comes at a time when HHS has been without a deputy secretary since February, after Jim O’Neill’s departure.

Klomp’s background combines health‑care administration with a focus on cost‑containment. He has been a key figure in the administration’s TrumpRx initiative, negotiating drug‑price deals with manufacturers and advancing the “most‑favored nations” plan to lower prescription costs for consumers. His work has earned public commendations from Trump, who highlighted Klomp’s role in a recent deal with Regeneron.

In addition to his pharmaceutical negotiations, Klomp has led searches for senior leadership positions within HHS, including candidates for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Surgeon General. His involvement in the search for a new FDA commissioner underscores his influence on the nation’s health‑regulatory landscape.

The nomination will now move to the Senate for confirmation. Klomp will join the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s hearing schedule, where senators will evaluate his qualifications and vision for HHS. If confirmed, he will work closely with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and continue the administration’s emphasis on affordable health care.

Klomp’s appointment signals continuity in the Trump administration’s health‑policy agenda, focusing on reducing drug prices and streamlining public‑health operations. Stakeholders in the health‑care industry and advocacy groups will closely monitor the confirmation process, as his leadership could shape future reforms affecting millions of Americans.