What is the Department of Health and Human Services?

The Department of Health and Human Services is the federal department responsible for public health, medical research, food and drug safety, and major health and social service programs. Created in 1953 as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Eisenhower, it was reorganized in 1980 when education functions were moved to a new Department of Education. The department's headquarters is the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., near the National Mall.

With more than 80,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding 1.5 trillion dollars in recent years, it is the largest non-defense department by spending, primarily because it administers Medicare, Medicaid, and other major health and social programs.

Health and Human Services oversees several major operating divisions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administers Medicare (health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older and some disabled individuals) and Medicaid (health insurance for low-income Americans, jointly funded with states). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works to prevent disease, respond to public health emergencies, and conduct disease surveillance. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, vaccines, cosmetics, and tobacco products. The National Institutes of Health is the largest medical research agency in the world, supporting research on cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases, and other health conditions through more than 300,000 researchers worldwide.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration leads federal efforts on mental health and addiction. The Administration for Children and Families oversees programs such as Head Start, child welfare, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The Health Resources and Services Administration supports community health centers and health workforce programs. The Indian Health Service provides health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services advises the President on health policy and leads federal responses to public health emergencies, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Secretaries include Alex Azar, Xavier Becerra, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.