Tessa Quinn
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the US federal government. It is responsible for protecting the health and well-being of all people in the US and providing essential human services. The department is led by the secretary of health and human services, who is appointed by the president and advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. The secretary is assisted by a deputy secretary and seven assistant secretaries. As of 2025, the secretary of health and human services is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
| Motto | Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America |
| Function | Protecting the health of the US people and providing essential human services |
| Budget | $1.293 trillion (FY 2020) |
| Secretary | Appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate |
| Secretary's Salary | $250,600 (as of January 2025) |
| Deputy Secretary | Appointed by the president |
| Number of Assistant Secretaries | 7 |
| Number of Agencies | 11 |
| Number of Divisions | 28 (planned reduction to 15 in 2025) |
| Examples of Agencies | Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is led by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services
- The Secretary is assisted by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
- The US Surgeon General leads the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
- The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health supports advisory committees
- The HHS administers 11 agencies including the FDA, CDC, NIH, ACF, and CMS
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is led by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch of the US federal government. Its mission is to "protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves." The HHS administers 115 programs across its 11 operating divisions, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The HHS is led by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. The secretary advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs, and strives to carry out approved programs while keeping the public informed of the department's objectives. The secretary is assisted by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and seven assistant secretaries, who together manage the department.
As of 2025, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. serves as the 26th Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. He is responsible for overseeing the department's operations and ensuring that its programs are effectively carried out. Kennedy works closely with the deputy secretary and assistant secretaries to manage the department's budget, develop policies, and address issues related to public health and human services.
The HHS has undergone several reorganizations over the years, with the most recent one announced in 2025. This reorganization includes merging five existing agencies into a new Administration for a Healthy America, reorienting the CDC towards infectious disease programs, and breaking up the Administration for Community Living. The plan also proposes a reduction in the workforce, with a total of about 20,000 full-time job losses expected throughout the department.
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The Secretary is assisted by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the US federal government. Its primary function is to protect the health and well-being of the American people and provide essential human services. The department administers 115 programs across its 11 operating divisions, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The HHS is led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. As of 2025, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. serves as the 26th Secretary of the department. The Secretary advises the President on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs, and strives to carry out the department's approved programs while keeping the public informed of its objectives.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) plays a key role in providing advice and recommendations in areas such as blood and tissue safety, vaccines, HIV, and sports nutrition. OASH committees reflect a diverse range of viewpoints, including physicians, pharmacists, service providers, and other experts in the public health field.
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The US Surgeon General leads the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
The Surgeon General of the United States is the operational head of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). The Surgeon General's office and staff are known as the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). The Surgeon General is the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The Surgeon General reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), who may be a four-star admiral in the commissioned corps. The Surgeon General serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on public health and scientific issues.
The Surgeon General is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The Surgeon General must be appointed from individuals who are members of the regular corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and have specialized training or significant experience in public health programs. The Surgeon General holds the rank of Vice Admiral and oversees the operations of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS), an elite group of multidisciplinary officers working throughout the federal government. The USPHS is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, and its mission is to protect, promote, and advance the health of the nation.
Officers of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are classified as non-combatants. However, they can be subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the Geneva Conventions when designated by the commander-in-chief as a military force or if they are detailed or assigned to work with the armed forces. Officers of the Commissioned Corps, including the Surgeon General, wear uniforms modelled after those of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. The Surgeon General is the ultimate award authority for several public health awards and decorations, including the Surgeon General's Medallion.
The Surgeon General also has many informal duties, such as educating the American public about health issues and advocating for healthy lifestyle choices. The office periodically issues health warnings, such as the surgeon general's warning label present on tobacco cigarettes and alcoholic beverage labels. Surgeons General have often been vocal advocates of precedent-setting, far-sighted, unconventional, or even unpopular health policies. For example, in 1964, Luther Terry published a landmark report saying that smoking may be hazardous to health, sparking nationwide anti-smoking efforts.
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The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health supports advisory committees
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is led by the secretary of health and human services, who is a level I position in the Executive Schedule. As of January 2025, the secretary earns a salary of $250,600. The secretary advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs, and administers the Department of Health and Human Services to execute approved programs.
The assistant secretary for health (ASH) is a senior U.S. government official within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who acts as the primary advisor to the secretary of health and human services on public health matters. The assistant secretary and their staff make up the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health has numerous responsibilities, including strengthening and providing leadership to the nation's system for protecting volunteers in research conducted or supported by HHS, reducing the burden of infectious diseases, and encouraging collaboration and innovation among federal agencies and stakeholders. It also addresses the health status and quality of life for minority populations in the United States, advises on issues related to family planning, population affairs, and adolescent health, and promotes integrity in research programs of the PHS, responding to allegations of research misconduct. The office also works to improve the health of American women by advancing a comprehensive women's health agenda throughout HHS and promoting and advancing the public health and safety of all Americans by addressing the needs of the population.
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The HHS administers 11 agencies including the FDA, CDC, NIH, ACF, and CMS
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. The secretary administers the HHS, which comprises multiple divisions and agencies within the US Public Health Service and three human services agencies.
HHS's chief policy officer and general manager, the Office of the Secretary (OS), administers and oversees the organization, its programs, and its activities. The Deputy Secretary and a number of Assistant Secretaries and Offices support OS.
HHS administers 11 agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The FDA, part of the Public Health Service, ensures food safety and the safety and efficacy of drugs, biological products, medical devices, and electronic products that emit radiation. The CDC, also part of the Public Health Service, provides leadership and direction in the prevention and control of diseases and other preventable conditions, and responds to public health emergencies. The NIH is also a part of the Public Health Service. The ACF promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities through educational and supportive programs in partnership with states, tribes, and community organizations. CMS combines oversight of the Medicare program, the federal portion of the Medicaid program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and related quality assurance activities.
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Frequently asked questions
The Department of Health and Human Services is led by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. The current secretary is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.
The secretary advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. They strive to administer the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the department's objectives.
The secretary of health and human services is a level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$250,600 as of January 2025.
The secretary is assisted by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by the president, and seven assistant secretaries who serve as top departmental administrators.
