United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is a member of the United States Cabinet. The office was formerly Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1980, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services, and its education functions and Rehabilitation Services Administration were transferred to the new United States Department of Education. Patricia Roberts Harris headed the department before and after it was renamed.
| United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
|---|---|
Seal of the department | |
Flag of the secretary | |
| Department of Health and Human Services | |
| Style | Mr. Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Reports to | President |
| Seat | Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C. |
| Appointer | President with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | At the President's Pleasure |
| Constituting instrument | Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1953 67 Stat. 631 42 U.S.C. ยง 3501 |
| Formation | April 11, 1953 |
| First holder | Oveta Culp Hobby |
| Succession | Twelfth |
| Deputy | Deputy Secretary |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, Level I |
| Website | www.hhs.gov |
Nominations to the office of Secretary of HHS are referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the United States Senate Committee on Finance, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, before confirmation is considered by the full United States Senate.
Secretary of Health and Human Services is a level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$221,400, as of January 2021.
Xavier Becerra has served as the 25th United States secretary of health and human services since March 19, 2021, the first person of Hispanic descent to hold the post.