Gubernatorial appointee Alex Adams tells Senate Health and Welfare he will prioritize child welfare, streamline agency rules

Alex Adams, the governor—s appointee to lead the Department of Health and Welfare, told the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee he plans to narrow the agency—s mission to a small set of priorities led by child welfare and to reduce regulatory and statutory "clutter" that he said impedes the agency—s work.

Adams, introduced to the committee as the department—s director, said he took the role seven months earlier and has focused the senior leadership team on two themes: "quality over quantity" and "laser focused on child welfare." He described steps taken so far, including reorganizing finance leadership, launching a sign-off process for grants and procurements, creating an internal Office of Program Integrity and trimming agency regulations and statutes.

"The budget is a law, not a suggestion," Adams said, summarizing changes in oversight. He said the department has about 3,000 employees spread across 74 buildings…