Donald Trump has nominated Chris Klomp to be deputy secretary of the HHS. Klomp has been a close advisor to HHS Secretary RFK Jr. for several years. Now, the president’s latest decision would make Klomp the second-in-command behind RFK Jr.
Donald Trump announces Chris Klomp as HHS second in command
In a June 26 Truth Social post, Donald Trump announced his nomination of Chris Klomp to be the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Klomp currently serves as the Director of Medicare and Deputy Administrator of CMS and Senior Advisor to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Praising Klomp, Trump penned, “His rapid rise in my Administration proves that he is a potential STAR.” The president continued, “Chris is a Strong and Inspiring Leader and a Highly Successful Entrepreneur. Everywhere Chris goes, he earns TRUST. He is a person of principle, and is deeply committed to serving the AMERICAN People — and fixing our broken Healthcare System.”
Trump expressed his confidence in Klomp, saying, “HHS is a massive and complex organization, but Chris knows exactly how to run it.” Furthermore, the POTUS noted that the Medicare director “is doing a FANTASTIC job leading Medicare, and overseeing day-to-day operations.”
Additionally, Trump stated that he, along with RFK Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, “made this decision together!” In conclusion, the president said, “Chris puts AMERICA FIRST, and will reform Healthcare to Make America Great and Healthy Again.”
The seat of the deputy secretary at HHS has reportedly been vacant since Jim O’Neill’s departure in February. His exit was part of a broader leadership shakeup in the agency ahead of the midterm elections. In the same month, Klomp became a senior advisor to Kennedy and began to oversee HHS operations. He has been serving as the Medicare director since April 2025.
