Trump nominates Chris Klomp for deputy health secretary

President 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 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 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.