The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-12 on September 24, 2026 to advance Chris Klomp's nomination for deputy secretary of Health and Human Services. Klomp, currently a senior adviser to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced sharp criticism from Democrats over his role negotiating opaque drug pricing deals and his compliance with the administration's controversial vaccine stances. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was the sole Democrat to support Klomp, securing commitments on regional Medicare payment adjustments.
Senate Finance Committee vote on Chris Klomp
- ▪Senator Sheldon Whitehouse supported Chris Klomp's nomination after Klomp agreed that Rhode Island providers should receive adjusted Medicare payments to match neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut.
- ▪The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-12 on September 24, 2026 to recommend the confirmation of Chris Klomp as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
- ▪Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was the sole Democrat to join all committee Republicans in voting to advance Chris Klomp's nomination on September 24, 2026.
Disputes over vaccine policy
- ▪During confirmation hearings, Democratic lawmakers and Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy pressed Chris Klomp to challenge vaccine policy decisions made by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump.
- ▪Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden accused Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of lying about vaccine access and characterized Chris Klomp as complicit in those statements.
- ▪Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy previously threatened to withhold healthcare nominations if the Department of Health and Human Services continued its aggressive vaccine overhaul.
Chris Klomp's current roles in HHS
- ▪Chris Klomp serves as a senior adviser and chief counselor to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- ▪Chris Klomp has aided in high-profile hires and acted as a liaison between the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House.
Chris Klomp's drug pricing negotiations
- ▪Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden criticized Chris Klomp's drug pricing negotiations, stating the agreements are opaque, protect pharmaceutical companies from tariffs, and exempt drugs from certain Medicare price deductions.
- ▪Chris Klomp served as a key architect and negotiator for the Trump administration's "most favored nation" drug pricing agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
Debatable claims
- ▪The Trump administration's 'most favored nation' drug pricing agreements do more harm than good
- ▪HHS deputy secretary nominee Chris Klomp should publicly challenge Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine policies
- ▪Senators are justified in trading confirmation votes for state-specific Medicare payment adjustments
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