Senate Finance Committee Advances Klomp for HHS Deputy Role Amid Tax and Vaccine Disputes
The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-12 on September 24, 2026, to advance Chris Klomp’s nomination as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Klomp, currently a senior adviser to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will serve as the department’s No. 2 official if confirmed by the full Senate. The vote followed contentious hearings where Klomp defended the administration’s most-favored-nation drug pricing program and distanced himself from vaccine controversies. While Republicans and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse supported the move, Democrats criticized Klomp for withholding details on pharmaceutical deals and for alleged tax evasion tactics. The committee also advanced other nominees, including Ge Bai for HHS assistant secretary and Jim Gadwood for IRS chief counsel, though the latter faced scrutiny over university tax-exempt status regulations.