Federal Policy
Senate Finance Committee Advances Chris Klomp Nomination for HHS Deputy Secretary
The Senate Finance Committee on September 24, 2026, advanced Chris Klomp's nomination for deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by a 15-12 vote, sending it to the full Senate. Klomp currently serves as director of Medicare and deputy administrator at CMS. The nomination now awaits a floor vote. If confirmed, Klomp would hold the second-highest position at HHS, with oversight authority spanning CMS, including Medicaid and CHIP operations, along with other departmental programs.
Why it mattersThe HHS deputy secretary holds significant operational authority over CMS, influencing Medicaid policy implementation, waiver decisions, and state-federal program oversight.