Iowa Health and Human Services director resigns after confirmation stalls in Senate

After his confirmation was denied in the Iowa Senate, Larry Johnson has resigned as the Iowa HHS director and will instead serve as the department's new principal deputy director.

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KCCI EIGHT NEWS STARTS WITH BREAKING NEWS. IOWA’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR HAS RESIGNED. GOVERNOR REYNOLDS ANNOUNCED LARRY JOHNSON’S RESIGNATION. JOHNSON WAS NAMED DIRECTOR IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. IOWA SENATE DEMOCRATS BLOCKED HIS CONFIRMATION DURING A VOTE IN APRIL. REYNOLDS SAYS DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR CRAIG PAULSON WILL NOW SERVE AS THE HHS DIRECTOR, AND PAULSON HAS NOW APPOINT

Updated: 8:15 PM CDT Jun 19, 2026

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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is stepping down, but he’s not leaving the department.Larry Johnson was named the HHS director in October 2025 but was never confirmed by the Iowa Senate. All 16 Democrats voted against his appointment, preventing the necessary two-thirds majority for approval.At the time, Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said lawmakers were put in a difficult position when the department did not provide key financial information ahead of a Senate vote.KCCI previously reported Johnson could only remain in the role for 60 days after his confirmation was denied.Reynolds announced Friday she had accepted Johnson’s resignation and named Kraig Paulsen, the current director of the Iowa Department of Management, as the new HHS director.”This is not the first time I’ve called upon Director Paulsen to help lead executive branch departments during times of transition,” Reynolds said in a release announcing the change. “His experience across state government is unmatched, and I have full confidence in his ability to ensure our state’s largest agency has the leadership team required, not only to serve Iowans most in need of assistance, but also to advance strategic initiatives such as rural health transformation, cancer research, and child welfare technology improvements.”Paulsen has appointed Johnson as principal deputy director of the department.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is stepping down, but he’s not leaving the department.

Larry Johnson was named the HHS director in October 2025 but was never confirmed by the Iowa Senate. All 16 Democrats voted against his appointment, preventing the necessary two-thirds majority for approval.

At the time, Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner said lawmakers were put in a difficult position when the department did not provide key financial information ahead of a Senate vote.

KCCI previously reported Johnson could only remain in the role for 60 days after his confirmation was denied.

Reynolds announced Friday she had accepted Johnson’s resignation and named Kraig Paulsen, the current director of the Iowa Department of Management, as the new HHS director.

“This is not the first time I’ve called upon Director Paulsen to help lead executive branch departments during times of transition,” Reynolds said in a release announcing the change. “His experience across state government is unmatched, and I have full confidence in his ability to ensure our state’s largest agency has the leadership team required, not only to serve Iowans most in need of assistance, but also to advance strategic initiatives such as rural health transformation, cancer research, and child welfare technology improvements.”

Paulsen has appointed Johnson as principal deputy director of the department.