<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Chris Klomp, nominated by President Donald Trump for Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, was approved by the Senate Finance Committee despite concerns from Democrats regarding his role in negotiating drug pricing deals with pharmaceutical companies. The committee voted 15-12 to advance Klomp's nomination to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Klomp has been serving as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s top adviser since February. He was initially appointed in 2025 as the director of Medicare, working under Dr. Mehmet Oz at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In his role, Klomp was a key negotiator for the administration’s “most-favored nation” drug price deals, which aimed to align U.S. prescription prices with those of developing nations. These deals have been central to the Trump administration's affordability agenda ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) stated during the confirmation hearing that Klomp is well-suited for the role, emphasizing his commitment to effectively carrying out HHS's mission and addressing health challenges. Klomp has received support from Trump for his work on drug pricing negotiations, although Democrats have expressed concerns regarding his connections to the pharmaceutical industry.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Prior to his government service, Klomp founded an electronic medical records company, which he sold in 2020, and advised healthcare startups, including a fertility benefits company.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During the Senate Finance hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) criticized Klomp for the lack of transparency in the administration’s drug pricing deals, requesting details on what incentives were provided to pharmaceutical companies. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) also expressed frustration over Klomp's unwillingness to share information about these deals.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Klomp faced questions from Democrats about his loyalty to both President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, particularly regarding the controversial topic of childhood vaccines and their alleged link to autism. Klomp stated that he has not seen sufficient evidence to support such claims.</p>