Chris Klomp appointed deputy secretary of HHS
President Donald Trump has appointed Chris Klomp, the current director of Medicare, to the position of deputy secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Klomp will report directly to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which marks a significant advancement in his role, reports BritPanorama.
The deputy secretary is responsible for overseeing HHS operations and regulatory policies. Klomp’s appointment comes as he has been advising Kennedy for several months, positioning him as second in command within the department.
Trump expressed confidence in Klomp’s capabilities, stating, “HHS is a massive and complex organization, but Chris knows exactly how to run it.” He added that the decision was made collaboratively with Kennedy and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Klomp must receive Senate confirmation to officially take up the role, joining other health nominees awaiting hearings before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. HHS has not had a deputy secretary since February, following the departure of Jim O’Neill as part of ongoing leadership adjustments within the agency aimed at promoting health care affordability and the TrumpRx programme.
Since assuming office as Medicare director in April 2025, Klomp has been integral to the administration’s strategy on pharmaceutical negotiations and drug pricing reforms. His leadership has included initiating discussions with drug manufacturers for the TrumpRx initiative, which is designed to reduce prescription costs.
Trump has previously praised Klomp’s contributions, referring to him as “unbelievable, a real star,” during a White House event where a deal with drugmaker Regeneron was announced. Although Klomp may not be as widely recognized as other officials, his impact on health policy has been noted.
In his current role at HHS, Klomp has also spearheaded the search for candidates to lead key health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the surgeon general’s office. Dr. Erica Schwartz has been nominated for CDC director, while Dr. Nicole Saphier has been put forward for the surgeon general position, both pending Senate confirmation.
Recently, Klomp has been active in finding candidates to succeed former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, who resigned in May of this year.
