The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is holding a business meeting to consider the nomination of Mark Cruz to serve as the director of the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, went before the committee for his nomination hearing on June 24. He promised to engage in tribal consultation, support advance appropriations for the IHS as well as full funding for contract support costs in self-determination agreements and to reduce the employee vacancy rate within the agency.
“We recently marked 50 years of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act,” Cruz stated in his written testimony. “This law will guide my decision-making. I have seen the power of tribes managing their own programs when given the authority and resources to do so. If confirmed, I will work
closely with all federally recognized tribes to continue improving health outcomes.”
Once the committee approves, Cruz’s nomination can be sent to the U.S. Senate for further action. Assuming he is confirmed, he would be the first director of the IHS without a background in health care or medicine.
Assuming he is confirmed as director of the IHS, Cruz has said he will continue to serve as an adviser to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is the leader of the Department of Health and Human Services. Cruz joined the administration of President Donald Trump in June 2025.
The IHS has gone without a Senate-confirmed leader for more than 18 months. Roselyn Tso, a citizen of the Navajo Nation who had worked for the agency for four decades, served her final day on January 17, 2025.
The business meeting takes place at 2:30pm Eastern in Room 628 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building. It will be immediately followed by a legislative hearing on a bill to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, a federal law commonly known as NAHASDA.
A livestream will be available at indian.senate.gov.
Business Meeting to consider Mark Cruz to be Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services & Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S.4276 (July 22, 2026)
Nomination Hearing to consider Mark Cruz to be Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services (June 24, 2026)
