United States Secretary of Health and Human Services

(Redirected from 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, concerned with health matters. The Secretary reports to the President of the United States. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet.

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
US Department of Health and Human Services seal.svg
Seal of the department
Flag of the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.svg
Flag of the secretary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., official portrait (2025) (cropped 3-4).jpg
Incumbent
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

since February 13, 2025
United States Department of Health and Human Services
StyleMr. Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Member ofthe United States Cabinet
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatHubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C.
AppointerPresident of the United States
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthAt the President's Pleasure
Constituting instrumentReorganization Plan No. 1 of 1953
67 Stat. 631
42 U.S.C. § 3501
FormationApril 11, 1953; 72 years ago (1953-04-11)
First holderOveta Culp Hobby
SuccessionTwelfth[1]
DeputyUnited States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
SalaryExecutive Schedule, Level I
Websitewww.hhs.gov

List of secretaries

Parties

      Democratic (9)       Republican (15)       Independent (2)

Status       Denotes acting HHS Secretary

Health, education, and welfare

No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
1 Hobby-Oveta-Culp.jpg Hobby, Oveta CulpOveta Culp Hobby Texas April 11, 1953 July 31, 1955 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
2 Folsom.jpg Folsom, Marion B.Marion B. Folsom New York August 2, 1955 July 31, 1958
3 ArthurSFlemming.jpg Flemming, ArthurArthur Flemming Ohio August 1, 1958 January 19, 1961
4 Ribicoff.jpg Ribicoff, AbrahamAbraham Ribicoff Connecticut January 21, 1961 July 13, 1962 Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
5 Celebrez.jpg Celebrezze, Anthony J.Anthony J. Celebrezze Ohio July 31, 1962 August 17, 1965
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
6 John W. Gardner, U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.jpg Gardner, John W.John W. Gardner California August 18, 1965 March 1, 1968
7 Wilburportrait.jpg Cohen, Wilbur J.Wilbur J. Cohen Michigan May 16, 1968 January 20, 1969
8 Robert Finch, 1967.jpg Finch, RobertRobert Finch California January 21, 1969 June 23, 1970 Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
9 ElliotLeeRichardson.jpg Richardson, ElliotElliot Richardson Massachusetts June 24, 1970 January 29, 1973
10 Caspar Weinberger official photo.jpg Weinberger, CasparCaspar Weinberger California February 12, 1973 August 8, 1975
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
11 F. David Mathews.jpg Mathews, F. DavidF. David Mathews Alabama August 8, 1975 January 20, 1977
12 Swearing-in of Joseph Califano, Secretary of HEW - NARA - 173478 (cropped).tif Califano Jr., Joseph A.Joseph A. Califano Jr. District of Columbia January 25, 1977 August 3, 1979 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
13 Patricia R. Harris official portrait.jpg Harris, Patricia RobertsPatricia Roberts Harris District of Columbia August 3, 1979 May 4, 1980[2]

Health and human services

No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
13 Patricia R. Harris official portrait.jpg Harris, Patricia RobertsPatricia Roberts Harris District of Columbia May 4, 1980[2] January 20, 1981 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
14 Secretary Richard Schweiker.jpg Schweiker, RichardRichard Schweiker Pennsylvania January 22, 1981 February 3, 1983 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
15 Mmheckler.JPG Heckler, MargaretMargaret Heckler Massachusetts March 10, 1983 December 13, 1985
16 Otis R. Bowen.jpg Bowen, OtisOtis Bowen Indiana December 13, 1985 March 1, 1989
17 SullivanLouis.jpg Sullivan, Louis W.Louis W. Sullivan Georgia March 1, 1989 January 20, 1993 Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
18 Shalala portrait.jpg Shalala, DonnaDonna Shalala Wisconsin January 22, 1993 January 20, 2001 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
19 Tommy Thompson 1.jpg Thompson, TommyTommy Thompson Wisconsin February 2, 2001 January 26, 2005 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
20 Mike Leavitt.jpg Leavitt, MikeMike Leavitt Utah January 26, 2005 January 20, 2009
JohnsonCharlesE.jpg Johnson, Charles E.Charles E. Johnson Utah January 20, 2009 April 28, 2009 Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
21 Kathleen Sebelius official portrait (cropped).jpg Sebelius, KathleenKathleen Sebelius Kansas April 28, 2009 June 9, 2014
22 Sylvia Mathews Burwell official portrait (cropped).jpg Burwell, Sylvia MathewsSylvia Mathews Burwell West Virginia June 9, 2014 January 20, 2017
Norris Cochran (cropped).jpg Cochran, NorrisNorris Cochran Florida January 20, 2017 February 10, 2017 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
23 Tom Price official photo (cropped).jpg Price, TomTom Price Georgia February 10, 2017 September 29, 2017
Don J. Wright official portrait (cropped).jpg Wright, Don J.Don J. Wright Virginia September 29, 2017 October 10, 2017
Eric D. Hargan official photo (cropped).jpg Hargan, EricEric Hargan Illinois October 10, 2017 January 29, 2018
24 Alex Azar official portrait (cropped).jpg Azar, AlexAlex Azar Indiana January 29, 2018 January 20, 2021
Norris Cochran (cropped).jpg Cochran, NorrisNorris Cochran Florida January 20, 2021 March 19, 2021 Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
25 HHS Xavier Becerra (cropped).jpg Becerra, XavierXavier Becerra California March 19, 2021 January 20, 2025
Dorothy-Fink.jpg Fink, DorothyDorothy Fink Pennsylvania January 20, 2025 February 13, 2025 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
26 Robert F. Kennedy Jr., official portrait (2025) (cropped 3-4).jpg Robert F. Kennedy Jr. California February 13, 2025 Incumbent

United States Secretary Of Health And Human Services Media

References

  1. "3 U.S. Code § 19 - Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harris was Secretary on May 4, 1980, when the office changed names from Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to Secretary of Health and Human Services. Because the department merely changed names, she did not need to be confirmed again, and her term continued uninterrupted.