HHS nominee Chris Klomp faces questioning from Sen. Elizabeth Warren on voluntary drug‑pricing contracts

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Chris Klomp testified before the Senate Finance Committee on September 15, 2026. The hearing was described as relatively mild overall.

During the session, Sen. Elizabeth Warren pressed Klomp on the details of voluntary agreements the agency is pursuing with large pharmaceutical companies. Warren sought clarification on how the contracts would be structured and enforced.

Klomp defended the approach, emphasizing the agency's intent to use voluntary deals as a tool to address drug pricing without imposing mandatory regulations. The exchange highlighted ongoing congressional scrutiny of HHS drug‑pricing strategies.

The hearing concluded without a definitive resolution, leaving the specifics of the proposed contracts to be worked out in future discussions between HHS and the industry.