U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
What HHS is
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a Cabinet-level federal department charged with protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those least able to help themselves. HHS promotes medical and public health research, administers health programs, enforces health-related regulations, and is the nation’s largest grant-making agency.
History and core responsibilities
- Founded as a Cabinet department in 1953 (originally the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare); reorganized as HHS in 1980 after the Department of Education separated.
- Implements parts of major federal laws and rules, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
- Oversees human-subjects protections for federally funded research and operates programs such as Head Start.
- Administers more than 100 programs spanning healthcare, social services, civil rights, privacy, disaster preparedness, and health-related research.
Structure: operating divisions
HHS has 12 operating divisions, including eight agencies within the U.S. Public Health Service and three human-services agencies. Together they deliver a wide range of services, grants, regulatory oversight, and research.
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Key agencies and what they do
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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The nation’s primary public health protection agency. Conducts disease surveillance, research, and prevention programs; guides responses to public health threats; and promotes healthy behaviors and environments.
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Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
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Regulates the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices. Also oversees the safety of food, cosmetics, and radiation-emitting products and regulates tobacco products.
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Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- Focuses on services and supports for older adults and people with disabilities. Protects rights, prevents abuse, funds research, and strengthens community-based networks.
Other major divisions
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF) — programs for children, families, and economic security.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) — evidence to improve healthcare quality and safety.
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) — hazardous substance exposure and public health.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — administers Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and health insurance marketplace standards.
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) — access to primary care and health workforce programs.
- Indian Health Service (IHS) — healthcare services for American Indian and Alaska Native people.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) — biomedical and public health research.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — behavioral health services and prevention.
Programs and impact
HHS programs support military families, seniors, low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and children. The department enforces healthcare privacy protections (HIPAA), funds public health and medical research, and distributes grants for health and human services across federal, state, and local partners.
Leadership
HHS is headed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Cabinet member who oversees the department’s policies and operations.
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Conclusion
HHS combines regulation, service delivery, research, and grant-making to protect public health and provide human services nationwide. Its agencies — notably CDC, FDA, NIH, and CMS — play central roles in disease prevention, medical product oversight, biomedical research, and health program administration.