Tradeoffs Trump's Pick to Quiet the Chaos at HHS
Apr 2, 2026
Dan Diamond, a Washington Post White House reporter who covers health policy, breaks down the shakeup at HHS. He walks through how Chris Klomp, a healthcare executive-turned-chief counselor, is managing day-to-day operations. Short segments cover vaccine policy tensions, staffing changes at FDA and CDC, efforts to rebuild morale, and what success might look like over the next two years.
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Klomp Is HHS's De Facto Manager
- Chris Klomp is serving as the day-to-day manager of HHS, effectively acting like the secretary in all but name.
- He oversees hiring, signs off on big announcements, and runs operations across Medicare, NIH, FDA, and CDC.
Kennedy's Lack Of Government Experience Created Turmoil
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lacks traditional big-government management experience, which contributed to operational problems and culture clashes at HHS.
- Kennedy's outsider approach led to surprises for the White House and tasks left incomplete or handled poorly.
Klomp Is A Guardrail Against Abrupt Vaccine Changes
- The White House brought Klomp in to rein in unpopular vaccine shifts and keep HHS messaging aligned with broader political priorities.
- Klomp's mandate focuses HHS on affordability and spending rather than contentious vaccine policy.