Dr. Alex Adams, nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), told the Senate Finance Committee that if confirmed he would administer ACF programs in a budget‑conscious, state‑oriented manner while "follow[ing] the law." He faced sustained questioning from senators about Head Start funding, residential treatment oversight for children, foster‑family recruitment and the national human‑trafficking hotline.

Adams described his record in Idaho and his priorities if confirmed. He said his agency in Idaho reduced congregate care from 268 children to 173, a 35% reduction, and that as director he oversaw "a staff of nearly 3,000 individuals and an annual budget of $5,500,000,000." He said he favors a state‑focused approach that gives "states, tribal governments, and parents maximum flexibility under the law." He also told the committee that "Secretary Kennedy has advocated for the MMR vaccine as the most effective way of preventing the spread of measles and I agree with that."

On oversight of residential treatment facilities, Adams described steps Idaho took to increase inspections and said the state moved from one announced inspection a year to two, "including one unannounced." He said his "operating principle in Idaho has been when there's a fork in the road, I'm going to do what's in the best interest of the child."

Senators pressed Adams on Head Start. Multiple senators described delays, closures and staff disruptions following recent HHS reorganization and budget actions. Adams said Head Start is a priority and echoed Secretary Xavier Kennedy's stated aim to "make Head Start better and brighter by the end of this administration," and he committed to work with senators and grantees to ensure continuity of services. On the number of funded Head Start slots, Adams estimated "around 750,000 funded slots" and acknowledged recent declines from earlier years.

Lawmakers also raised concerns about the national human‑trafficking hotline contractor, Polaris, and asked whether Office of Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) conflicts of interest in grant awards would be addressed. Adams said he has read published reporting and that "all relevant tips will be reported" to law enforcement and that he would work with the agency's general counsel and relevant parties to address procurement integrity.

On other items, Adams told senators he would review and work with Congress on bills on foster‑family recruitment and other priorities. He repeatedly framed his commitments as administrative and legal obligations rather than policy declarations: "My job is to follow the law," he said when pressed on whether he would carry out directives that he judged unlawful.

The transcript records detailed questioning and commitments but does not include a roll‑call confirmation vote for Adams.