White House Plans HHS Leadership Shakeup to Tighten Oversight Ahead of Midterms

The White House is planning a leadership shakeup at the Department of Health and Human Services as the administration looks to tighten oversight of the agency ahead of the midterm elections.

According to an administration official, the changes will restructure the senior leadership team under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., installing four senior counselors to more closely manage daily operations and coordinate communications across federal health agencies.

Chris Klomp, currently head of Medicare and a senior adviser at HHS, is expected to take on a senior counselor role and serve as the department’s de facto chief of staff. John Brooks, deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will oversee CMS-related issues. Two senior Food and Drug Administration officials, Grace Graham and Kyle Diamantas, are also set to become senior counselors handling FDA matters.

Current HHS chief of staff Matt Buckham will move into a senior counselor position as well.

Officials say the restructuring is part of a broader strategy to highlight major health initiatives that are expected to play a central role in the administration’s midterm messaging, including drug pricing policies and efforts promoting nutrition and healthy living.

The move also reflects concerns within the administration about coordination challenges within HHS and tensions between department leadership and the White House. The agency has faced internal disputes and leadership turnover in recent months, along with controversy surrounding policy decisions and proposed changes to the nation’s vaccine system.

By reshaping the leadership structure, the White House aims to maintain tighter control over policy direction and messaging as health issues take on greater political importance heading into the midterm election season.

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