United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the U.S. federal government created to protect the health of the U.S. people and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America".[3] Before the separate federal Department of Education was created in 1979, it was called the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW).
"Department of Health and Human Services" redirects here. For government departments by that name in other jurisdictions, see Department of Health and Human Services (disambiguation).Department overview
April 11, 1953
- Federal Security Agency
- United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
79,540 (2015)[1]
$1.631 trillion (2022)[2]
HHS is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. The position is currently held by Xavier Becerra.
The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the uniformed service of the PHS, is led by the Surgeon General who is responsible for addressing matters concerning public health as authorized by the secretary or by the assistant secretary for Health in addition to his or her primary mission of administering the Commissioned Corps.
Organization[edit]
Internal structure[edit]
The Department of Health & Human Services is led by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, a member of the United States Cabinet appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate. The secretary is assisted in managing the department by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is also appointed by the president. The secretary and deputy secretary are further assisted by seven assistant secretaries, who serve as top departmental administrators.
As of January 20, 2018, this is the top level of the organizational chart. HHS provides further organizational detail on its website.[9]
Several agencies within HHS are components of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), as noted below.
Immediate Office of the Secretary[edit]
The Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS) is the top-level unit that directly reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. They assist in the administration of HHS and include the following components:
