Mark Cruz to lead Indian Health Service amid staffing and infrastructure challenges
Summary
Mark Cruz has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), which provides healthcare to about 2.8 million Native American and Alaska Native people. Cruz, a member of the Klamath Tribes, will lead the agency facing staffing shortages and outdated facilities while continuing his role as a senior adviser on tribal health.Key Facts
- Mark Cruz was confirmed by the Senate with a 51-47 vote to lead the Indian Health Service for a four-year term.
- He is a citizen of the Klamath Tribes and previously worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on energy and economic development.
- The IHS serves 2.8 million Native American and Alaska Native patients through 21 hospitals and 78 clinics.
- Many IHS facilities (about one-third) are in poor condition and average 40 years old.
- The agency struggles with high vacancies among healthcare providers and a backlog of facility replacements.
- Cruz will keep his position as a senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. while leading IHS.
- It would take an estimated $73 billion to fully meet tribal healthcare needs, but Congress allocated just over $8 billion for IHS in 2026.
- Native American organizations praised Cruz's confirmation as timely for improving healthcare and fulfilling federal obligations.
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