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". Before the separate federal Department of Education was created in 1979, it was called the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW).
Seal of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | |
Flag of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | |
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Department headquarters | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 11, 1953 |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters | Hubert H. Humphrey Building Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Employees | 79,540 (2015) |
| Annual budget | $1.631 trillion (2022) |
| Department executives | |
| Website | www |
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.