Key facts
- Chris Klomp has been appointed as a top deputy to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Klomp previously worked on the COVID-19 response for Trump.
- Klomp was instrumental in appointing other key personnel to the CDC.
Chris Klomp has been appointed as a top deputy to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., overseeing key roles within the administration. Klomp's appointment follows his instrumental role in filling other significant positions at the CDC and his prior work on the COVID-19 response.
The appointment of Chris Klomp as a key deputy to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signals a significant shift in personnel and potentially policy direction within the administration, particularly concerning public health roles and vaccine-related matters.
Chris Klomp has been appointed as a top deputy to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a move that comes after Klomp played a significant role in filling other key positions within the administration. Klomp's prior experience includes assisting the Trump administration with the COVID-19 response in 2020 and serving as CEO of Collective Medical, a real-time care notification platform.
Klomp has been credited with instrumental efforts in appointing other individuals to critical roles within the CDC, including Sean Slovenski as deputy director and chief operating officer, Jennifer Shuford as deputy director and chief medical officer, and Sara Brenner as senior counselor for public health to Kennedy. These appointments occurred despite Kennedy's initial preference for Dave Weldon, an ex-Florida congressman who shares his views on vaccine safety, a candidate the Senate refused to consider.
However, some of Klomp's actions have reportedly caused friction. One former senior HHS official, speaking anonymously, alleged that Klomp has been undermining Kennedy and making personnel decisions unilaterally, suggesting Kennedy was unaware of these efforts. This official also claimed that Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is influenced by Klomp due to positive endorsements from his former superior, Mehmet Oz. Klomp has also been observed representing HHS at major health conferences in place of Kennedy.