Jordan Ellis
The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The secretary advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs and administers the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs. The current secretary of health and human services is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has held the position since February 13, 2025. Before Kennedy, President Joe Biden nominated Rachel Levine to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health. Levine is a transgender woman and one of the first openly transgender government officials in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |
| Position | Secretary of Health and Human Services |
| Department | Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
| Role | Principal advisor to the President of the United States on health matters |
| Salary | $250,600 as of January 2025 |
| Duties | Advising the President on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs; administering the Department of Health and Human Services to implement approved programs and communicate their objectives to the public |
| Department's Mission | To enhance the health and well-being of all Americans |
| Notable Previous Holders | Rachel Levine (first openly transgender person to hold an office requiring Senate confirmation), Patricia Roberts Harris |
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What You'll Learn
- The current US Health Minister is Robert F. Kennedy Jr
- The position was formerly known as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
- The Secretary advises the president on health, welfare, and income security
- The Department of Health and Human Services oversees 11 agencies
- Rachel Levine was the first openly transgender person to hold a Senate-confirmed position
The current US Health Minister is Robert F. Kennedy Jr
The secretary strives to administer the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the objectives of the department. The Department of Health and Human Services oversees 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 and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The US Department of Health and Human Services's mission is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. Its programs and services are administered by the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions, Operating Divisions, and Regional Offices. The secretary of health and human services is a level I position in the Executive Schedule, earning a salary of US$250,600 as of January 2025.
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The position was formerly known as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
The United States does not have a health minister. Instead, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They are the principal advisor to the president on all health matters and are a member of the United States Cabinet. The incumbent secretary of health and human services is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has held the position since February 13, 2025.
The secretary's duties revolve around human conditions and concerns in the United States. This includes advising the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. They are responsible for administering the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the department's objectives.
Rachel Levine was nominated by President Biden in 2021 to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health. She is the first openly transgender person to hold an office that requires Senate confirmation. She previously served as the Pennsylvania physician general from 2015 to 2017 and as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2017 to 2021, leading the state's public health response to COVID-19.
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The Secretary advises the president on health, welfare, and income security
The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the principal advisor to the president on all health matters. The secretary advises the president on health, welfare, and income security. They are a member of the United States Cabinet and head the Department of Health and Human Services. The secretary's role is to administer the department to carry out approved programs and make the public aware of the department's objectives.
The current secretary of health and human services is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has held the position since February 13, 2025. The secretary's duties revolve around human conditions and concerns in the United States. This includes matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. The secretary oversees 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 Department of Health and Human Services has a mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. The department's programs and services are administered by the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions, Operating Divisions, and Regional Offices. The secretary of health and human services is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, earning a salary of US$250,600 as of January 2025.
Before Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the position was held by Patricia Roberts Harris, who headed the department when it was known as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1980, the department was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services, and its education functions were transferred to the new Department of Education.
Rachel Levine was also in the running for a position in the Department of Health and Human Services. On February 13, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Levine to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health. She was the first openly transgender person to hold an office that required Senate confirmation.
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The Department of Health and Human Services oversees 11 agencies
The United States does not have a health minister. Instead, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is the principal advisor to the president on health matters. The incumbent secretary of health and human services is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has held the position since February 13, 2025.
The Department of Health and Human Services has a wide-ranging remit, overseeing 11 agencies and conducting vital, life-saving research to protect and support all Americans. The department's mission is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. To this end, it administers a wide variety of health and human services.
The 11 agencies overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services include:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Ensures food safety and the efficacy and safety of drugs, biological products, medical devices, and electronic products that emit radiation.
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC): This agency is responsible for controlling and preventing diseases in the US.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Conducts biomedical and behavioral research and supports research in the US and abroad.
- Administration for Children and Families (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.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Administers the Medicare program, providing healthcare coverage for older Americans and people with disabilities.
- Health Resources and Services Administration: Provides healthcare to people who are geographically isolated or economically/medically vulnerable.
- Indian Health Service: Develops and manages programs to meet the health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- Office of Global Affairs: Provides leadership and expertise in global health diplomacy to contribute to a healthier world.
- Office of the Inspector General (OIG): Protects the integrity of HHS programs and the health and welfare of program participants.
- Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR): Provides guidance to the Secretary on budget, financial management, acquisition policy, and support, as well as directing and coordinating these activities across the department.
- Office for Civil Rights (OCR): Ensures that individuals receiving services from HHS are not subject to unlawful discrimination and that their health information is secure and private.
These agencies work together to support the health and well-being of the American people, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Secretary providing leadership and coordination for the department's activities.
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Rachel Levine was the first openly transgender person to hold a Senate-confirmed position
The current US Secretary of Health and Human Services is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has held the position since February 13, 2025. The secretary is the principal advisor to the president on health matters and is a member of the United States Cabinet.
Levine also worked on policy initiatives to address health equity for the LGBTQIA+ community, such as the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Action Plan, in response to laws targeting transgender and non-binary communities. During a seminar at the Penn Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Levine discussed the establishment of the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice within the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as a syphilis task force to tackle the recent increase in syphilis cases in the US.
Levine's image appeared in a 2024 Trump campaign ad criticizing Harris on transgender rights, sparking controversy and accusations of defamation. Despite this, Levine's presence in the ad was deemed relatively unprovocative, and the ad was seen by some as a desperate attempt to create a culture war.
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Frequently asked questions
The US does not have a Health Minister, but a Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is the principal advisor to the president on health matters. The current secretary is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The previous secretary was Rachel Levine, who was the first openly transgender person to hold a position requiring Senate confirmation. She served from January 2021 to February 2025.
The Secretary advises the president on matters of health, welfare, and income security programs. They administer the Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing 11 agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
