Mark Cruz Confirmed as Director of U.S. Indian Health Service

The U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, as director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) with a 51‑47 vote. Cruz will lead the federal agency that provides health care to about 2.8 million Native American and Alaska Native patients, a position that had been vacant since late 2025.

Cruz, a senior adviser on tribal health to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pledged to advocate “ferociously” for better health outcomes in Indian Country and to address chronic staffing shortages and a 30‑year backlog of aging facilities. The IHS operates 21 hospitals and 78 health centers, many in poor condition, and requires an estimated $73 billion to fully meet tribal health needs, while FY 2026 funding is just over $8 billion.

The National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Health Board welcomed the confirmation, calling it a critical moment for tribal health programs and urging the federal government to uphold its trust and treaty obligations.