A power shift is underway at the US Health and Human Services Department (HHS), with the White House aiming to exert greater control over its key priorities. But here's where it gets controversial...
The administration is planning a personnel shakeup, installing new senior counselors to manage HHS's daily operations and communications. This move is seen as an attempt to tighten the White House's grip on the department's agenda, especially as the midterm elections approach.
Meet the New Counselors
Chris Klomp, the current Medicare head, will become the chief counselor and de facto chief of staff at HHS. He'll be joined by John Brooks, who will oversee CMS-related issues, and two senior FDA officials, Grace Graham and Kyle Diamantas, who will manage FDA-related matters at HHS. Matt Buckham, the current chief of staff, will also transition to a senior counselor role.
The administration official who spoke to CNN emphasized that these changes came out of conversations between White House officials and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. HHS confirmed the changes later, stating that the new hires would help accelerate the department's agenda.
A Midterm Strategy
The White House is gearing up for a midterm push, focusing on key health policies that President Donald Trump has been promoting as central to his domestic agenda. This includes the "most favored nation" drug pricing deals, which Klomp played a leading role in negotiating, and recent initiatives to promote healthier eating, seen as a broad appeal to voters.
Trump officials are also planning to advocate for broader health care legislation, aiming to codify the administration's drug pricing deals and implement policies to lower healthcare costs. This effort, according to the administration official, requires a stronger presence in HHS's senior ranks.
A Closer Watch on Kennedy
The personnel changes also reflect an effort to keep a closer eye on Secretary Kennedy and the HHS leadership. The department has faced coordination challenges with its own agencies and the White House, leading to frustrations among senior Trump officials and days-long controversies. Kennedy's decision to oust his first chief of staff and a top deputy after internal clashes, and the abrupt firing and rehiring of top FDA official Dr. Vinay Prasad, have added to these concerns.
Kennedy's push for a major overhaul of the nation's vaccine system, a priority for the vaccine skeptic, has also raised political concerns among Republicans ahead of the midterms.
This story has been updated with additional reporting, shedding light on the complex dynamics within the US Health and Human Services Department.
And this is the part most people miss... What do you think about the White House's strategy to exert control over HHS? Is it a necessary move to ensure alignment with the administration's agenda, or does it raise concerns about potential interference? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
