U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill is set to step down from his current position as part of a wider reorganization of the department's leadership, according to a report citing two HHS officials and an individual familiar with the personnel decision. O'Neill, who serves as the principal aide to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also holds the role of Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In addition to O'Neill's planned exit, the department's top lawyer, General Counsel Mike Stuart, is also expected to leave his post. Both officials are anticipated to be offered new roles within the Trump administration, the report indicated. It remains unclear whether those new appointments would be inside HHS or at other federal agencies.
An HHS spokesperson, speaking on Sunday, pointed to a post on the social platform X by department colleague Andrew Nixon. That post noted Stuart will continue to serve as HHS General Counsel on an interim basis while his appointment to a role within the administration is pending.
The personnel movements follow a set of management changes announced by Secretary Kennedy on Thursday. Under the reorganization, Chris Klomp will assume the title of chief counselor and be charged with overseeing the department's operations. Kyle Diamantas and Grace Graham will take on roles as senior counselors for the Food and Drug Administration, while John Brooks will serve as senior counselor for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The report did not provide additional details about the timing of the departures or the specific positions being offered to O'Neill and Stuart. Statements referenced in the report attribute information to internal HHS sources and an individual described as familiar with the decision-making process.
Summary
Senior HHS officials Jim O'Neill and Mike Stuart are leaving their current posts amid a departmental leadership reshuffle that names new counselors to oversee HHS operations and its major agencies. Both departing officials are expected to be offered roles elsewhere in the administration; details about those roles or their locations have not been specified.
Context and next steps
The department has announced internal leadership changes that reassign oversight responsibilities. Interim arrangements for Stuart have been publicly noted while his next appointment is processed.