United States Department of Health and Human Services

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Seal of the US Department of Health and Human Services
Flag of the US Department of Health and Human Services

Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Department headquarters
Department overview
FormedApril 11, 1953 (as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare)
Preceding agencies
JurisdictionFederal government of the United States
HeadquartersHubert H. Humphrey Building
Washington, D.C.
Employees62,000 
Annual budget$1.631 trillion (2022)[1]
Department executives
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary
  • Jim O'Neill, Deputy Secretary
Websitewww.hhs.gov

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the US federal government created to protect the health of the US people and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America".[2] Before the separate federal Department of Education was created in 1979, it was called the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW).

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 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.

  1. ^ "HHS FY 2022 Budget in Brief". June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "About HHS". US Department of Health and Human Services. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.