Trump nominates Chris Klomp for deputy health secretary

President https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump nominated Chris Klomp for deputy health secretary on Thursday, cementing the influential aide's role as a de facto No. 2 to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Why it matters: Klomp has won praise from https://www.axios.com/health" target="_blank">health industry leaders and other stakeholders since being elevated from Medicare director to chief counselor of the Department of Health and Human Services in February.

• His nomination adds to the backlog of Trump health appointments awaiting Senate action — including Erica Schwartz for Centers for Disease Control director and Nicole Saphier for surgeon general.

Driving the news: "Chris is a Strong and Inspiring Leader and a Highly Successful Entrepreneur.

Everywhere Chris goes, he earns TRUST," Trump said in https://trumpstruth.org/statuses/39531" target="_blank">announcing the nomination on Truth Social.

• Trump said Klomp has been "doing a FANTASTIC job leading Medicare, and overseeing day-to-day operations" and that his "experience building a BIG business gave him the TOUGHNESS to drive desperately needed major reforms," including on drug prices.

Between the lines: Klomp has been filling key vacancies at HHS, which saw its workforce roiled by last year's DOGE cuts and Kennedy's sweeping overhaul.

• He led administration negotiations with large drugmakers on "most favored nation" pricing deals that peg U.S. prices to lower costs paid in other developed nations.
• Before joining the administration, Klomp worked for Bain & Company and its investment firm, Bain Capital, and was chief executive of Collective Medical, a health data firm that was sold in 2020.