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, 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; 71 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 CulpOveta Culp Hobby Texas April 11, 1953 July 31, 1955 Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
(1953–1961)
2   Folsom, Marion B.Marion B. Folsom New York August 2, 1955 July 31, 1958
3   Flemming, ArthurArthur Flemming Ohio August 1, 1958 January 19, 1961
4   Ribicoff, AbrahamAbraham Ribicoff Connecticut January 21, 1961 July 13, 1962 Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy
(1961–1963)
5   Celebrezze, Anthony J.Anthony J. Celebrezze Ohio July 31, 1962 August 17, 1965
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
6   Gardner, John W.John W. Gardner California August 18, 1965 March 1, 1968
7   Cohen, Wilbur J.Wilbur J. Cohen Michigan May 16, 1968 January 20, 1969
8   Finch, RobertRobert Finch California January 21, 1969 June 23, 1970 Nixon, RichardRichard Nixon
(1969–1974)
9   Richardson, ElliotElliot Richardson Massachusetts June 24, 1970 January 29, 1973
10   Weinberger, CasparCaspar Weinberger California February 12, 1973 August 8, 1975
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford
(1974–1977)
11   Mathews, F. DavidF. David Mathews Alabama August 8, 1975 January 20, 1977
12   Califano Jr., Joseph A.Joseph A. Califano Jr. District of Columbia January 25, 1977 August 3, 1979 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
13   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   Harris, Patricia RobertsPatricia Roberts Harris District of Columbia May 4, 1980[2] January 20, 1981 Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
14   Schweiker, RichardRichard Schweiker Pennsylvania January 22, 1981 February 3, 1983 Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan
(1981–1989)
15   Heckler, MargaretMargaret Heckler Massachusetts March 10, 1983 December 13, 1985
16   Bowen, OtisOtis Bowen Indiana December 13, 1985 March 1, 1989
17   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, DonnaDonna Shalala Wisconsin January 22, 1993 January 20, 2001 Clinton, BillBill Clinton
(1993–2001)
19   Thompson, TommyTommy Thompson Wisconsin February 2, 2001 January 26, 2005 Bush, George W.George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
20   Leavitt, MikeMike Leavitt Utah January 26, 2005 January 20, 2009
  Johnson, Charles E.Charles E. Johnson Utah January 20, 2009 April 28, 2009 Obama, BarackBarack Obama
(2009–2017)
21   Sebelius, KathleenKathleen Sebelius Kansas April 28, 2009 June 9, 2014
22   Burwell, Sylvia MathewsSylvia Mathews Burwell West Virginia June 9, 2014 January 20, 2017
  Cochran, NorrisNorris Cochran Florida January 20, 2017 February 10, 2017 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2017–2021)
23   Price, TomTom Price Georgia February 10, 2017 September 29, 2017
  Wright, Don J.Don J. Wright Virginia September 29, 2017 October 10, 2017
  Hargan, EricEric Hargan Illinois October 10, 2017 January 29, 2018
24   Azar, AlexAlex Azar Indiana January 29, 2018 January 20, 2021
  Cochran, NorrisNorris Cochran Florida January 20, 2021 March 19, 2021 Biden, JoeJoe Biden
(2021–2025)
25   Becerra, XavierXavier Becerra California March 19, 2021 January 20, 2025
  Fink, DorothyDorothy Fink Pennsylvania January 20, 2025 February 13, 2025 Trump, DonaldDonald Trump
(2025–present)
26   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.