Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Health and Human Services
Agency name	Department of Health and Human Services
Formed	11 April 1953 (as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare)
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C.
Employees	~80,000 (2023)
Budget	$1.6 trillion (discretionary, 2023)
Chief1 name	Xavier Becerra
Chief1 position	Secretary
Chief2 name	Andrea Palm
Chief2 position	Deputy Secretary
Website	[https://www.hhs.gov/ hhs.gov]

Department of Health and Human Services. It is a cabinet-level executive department of the Federal government of the United States responsible for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its mission encompasses a vast portfolio, from conducting biomedical research through the National Institutes of Health to administering the nation's largest health insurance programs, Medicare and Medicaid. The department's work impacts nearly every American at some point in their life, from early childhood programs to end-of-life care.

History

The department's origins trace back to the creation of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) in 1953 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which consolidated federal health and welfare agencies. Key milestones in its early history included the launch of the Medicare and Medicaid programs in 1965 following the passage of the Social Security Amendments of 1965. In 1979, the Department of Education Organization Act was signed by President Jimmy Carter, splitting off educational functions and creating the modern Department of Health and Human Services. Subsequent decades saw its role expand during public health crises like the HIV/AIDS epidemic and through legislation such as the Affordable Care Act.

Organization

The department is led by the Secretary, who is a member of the United States Cabinet and is supported by the Deputy Secretary. It comprises 11 operating divisions, including major public health service agencies and human services agencies. Key public health divisions include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Indian Health Service. Human service agencies include the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Programs and services

The department administers hundreds of programs, most notably the Medicare program for seniors and the Medicaid program for low-income individuals, which together provide health coverage to over 150 million people. It oversees critical public health initiatives through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and funds groundbreaking medical research via the National Institutes of Health. Other essential services include the Head Start Program for early childhood education, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and child support enforcement. It also regulates food, drugs, and medical devices through the Food and Drug Administration.

Budget and financing

With a budget exceeding $1.6 trillion in annual discretionary and mandatory spending, it is one of the largest federal departments. The vast majority of its outlays are for mandatory spending on entitlement programs, primarily Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Discretionary funding supports the operational and research activities of its public health agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its budget is subject to the congressional appropriations process overseen by committees like the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Leadership and key officials

The department is headed by the Secretary, a position held since 2021 by Xavier Becerra, who was confirmed by the United States Senate. The Deputy Secretary is Andrea Palm. Other key Senate-confirmed officials include the Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, and the directors of its major operating divisions, such as the Director of the National Institutes of Health, currently Monica Bertagnolli, and the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Robert Califf.

Controversies and criticism

The department has faced significant controversies, including its response to public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the HIV/AIDS crisis. The Food and Drug Administration has been criticized for its drug approval processes, notably during the Opioid epidemic in the United States. Political battles have frequently surrounded its administration of the Affordable Care Act and rules on issues like Title X family planning funding. Other criticisms involve management of the Unaccompanied Children program and data security breaches within agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Category:United States Department of Health and Human Services Category:Health ministries Category:1953 establishments in the United States