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United States Secretary of Health and Human Services

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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 health matters. The secretary is a member of the United States Cabinet. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the incumbent secretary of health and human services, having held the position since February 13, 2025. The office was formerly known as the secretary of health, education, and welfare. In 1980, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed to 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. Nominations to the office 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. The secretary of health and human services is a level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$250,600, as of January 2025.

Infobox

Seat
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C.
Style
Mr. Secretary (informal)The Honorable (formal)
Deputy
Deputy Secretary
Salary
Executive Schedule, Level I
Website
www.hhs.gov
Appointer
The presidentwith Senate advice and consent
Formation
April 11, 1953; 72 years ago (1953-04-11)
Member of
Cabinet
Reports to
President of the United States
Succession
Twelfth
Term length
No fixed term
First holder
Oveta Culp Hobby
Constituting instrument
Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 195367 Stat. 63142 U.S.C. § 3501

Tables

· List of secretaries › Health, Education, and Welfare
Oveta Culp Hobby
Oveta Culp Hobby
No.
1
Name
Oveta Culp Hobby
State of residence
Texas
Took office
April 11, 1953
Left office
July 31, 1955
President(s)
Dwight D. Eisenhower(1953–1961)
Marion B. Folsom
Marion B. Folsom
No.
2
Name
Marion B. Folsom
State of residence
New York
Took office
August 2, 1955
Left office
July 31, 1958
Arthur Flemming
Arthur Flemming
No.
3
Name
Arthur Flemming
State of residence
Ohio
Took office
August 1, 1958
Left office
January 19, 1961
Abraham Ribicoff
Abraham Ribicoff
No.
4
Name
Abraham Ribicoff
State of residence
Connecticut
Took office
January 21, 1961
Left office
July 13, 1962
President(s)
John F. Kennedy(1961–1963)
Anthony J. Celebrezze
Anthony J. Celebrezze
No.
5
Name
Anthony J. Celebrezze
State of residence
Ohio
Took office
July 31, 1962
Left office
August 17, 1965
John W. Gardner
John W. Gardner
No.
6
Name
John W. Gardner
State of residence
California
Took office
August 18, 1965
Left office
March 1, 1968
Wilbur J. Cohen
Wilbur J. Cohen
No.
7
Name
Wilbur J. Cohen
State of residence
Michigan
Took office
May 16, 1968
Left office
January 20, 1969
Robert Finch
Robert Finch
No.
8
Name
Robert Finch
State of residence
California
Took office
January 21, 1969
Left office
June 23, 1970
President(s)
Richard Nixon(1969–1974)
Elliot Richardson
Elliot Richardson
No.
9
Name
Elliot Richardson
State of residence
Massachusetts
Took office
June 24, 1970
Left office
January 29, 1973
Caspar Weinberger
Caspar Weinberger
No.
10
Name
Caspar Weinberger
State of residence
California
Took office
February 12, 1973
Left office
August 8, 1975
F. David Mathews
F. David Mathews
No.
11
Name
F. David Mathews
State of residence
Alabama
Took office
August 8, 1975
Left office
January 20, 1977
Joseph A. Califano Jr.
Joseph A. Califano Jr.
No.
12
Name
Joseph A. Califano Jr.
State of residence
District of Columbia
Took office
January 25, 1977
Left office
August 3, 1979
President(s)
Jimmy Carter(1977–1981)
Patricia Roberts Harris
Patricia Roberts Harris
No.
13
Name
Patricia Roberts Harris
State of residence
District of Columbia
Took office
August 3, 1979
Left office
May 4, 1980
No.
Portrait
Name
State of residence
Took office
Left office
President(s)
1
Oveta Culp Hobby
Texas
April 11, 1953
July 31, 1955
Dwight D. Eisenhower(1953–1961)
2
Marion B. Folsom
New York
August 2, 1955
July 31, 1958
3
Arthur Flemming
Ohio
August 1, 1958
January 19, 1961
4
Abraham Ribicoff
Connecticut
January 21, 1961
July 13, 1962
John F. Kennedy(1961–1963)
5
Anthony J. Celebrezze
Ohio
July 31, 1962
August 17, 1965
Lyndon B. Johnson(1963–1969)
6
John W. Gardner
California
August 18, 1965
March 1, 1968
7
Wilbur J. Cohen
Michigan
May 16, 1968
January 20, 1969
8
Robert Finch
California
January 21, 1969
June 23, 1970
Richard Nixon(1969–1974)
9
Elliot Richardson
Massachusetts
June 24, 1970
January 29, 1973
10
Caspar Weinberger
California
February 12, 1973
August 8, 1975
Gerald Ford(1974–1977)
11
F. David Mathews
Alabama
August 8, 1975
January 20, 1977
12
Joseph A. Califano Jr.
District of Columbia
January 25, 1977
August 3, 1979
Jimmy Carter(1977–1981)
13
Patricia Roberts Harris
District of Columbia
August 3, 1979
May 4, 1980
· List of secretaries › Health and Human Services
Patricia Roberts Harris
Patricia Roberts Harris
No.
13
Name
Patricia Roberts Harris
State of residence
District of Columbia
Took office
May 4, 1980
Left office
January 20, 1981
President(s)
Jimmy Carter(1977–1981)
Richard Schweiker
Richard Schweiker
No.
14
Name
Richard Schweiker
State of residence
Pennsylvania
Took office
January 22, 1981
Left office
February 3, 1983
President(s)
Ronald Reagan(1981–1989)
Margaret Heckler
Margaret Heckler
No.
15
Name
Margaret Heckler
State of residence
Massachusetts
Took office
March 10, 1983
Left office
December 13, 1985
Otis Bowen
Otis Bowen
No.
16
Name
Otis Bowen
State of residence
Indiana
Took office
December 13, 1985
Left office
March 1, 1989
Louis W. Sullivan
Louis W. Sullivan
No.
17
Name
Louis W. Sullivan
State of residence
Georgia
Took office
March 1, 1989
Left office
January 20, 1993
President(s)
George H. W. Bush(1989–1993)
Donna Shalala
Donna Shalala
No.
18
Name
Donna Shalala
State of residence
Wisconsin
Took office
January 22, 1993
Left office
January 20, 2001
President(s)
Bill Clinton(1993–2001)
Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
No.
19
Name
Tommy Thompson
State of residence
Wisconsin
Took office
February 2, 2001
Left office
January 26, 2005
President(s)
George W. Bush(2001–2009)
Mike Leavitt
Mike Leavitt
No.
20
Name
Mike Leavitt
State of residence
Utah
Took office
January 26, 2005
Left office
January 20, 2009
Charles E. Johnson
Charles E. Johnson
No.
–
Name
Charles E. Johnson
State of residence
Utah
Took office
January 20, 2009
Left office
April 28, 2009
President(s)
Barack Obama(2009–2017)
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
No.
21
Name
Kathleen Sebelius
State of residence
Kansas
Took office
April 28, 2009
Left office
June 9, 2014
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
No.
22
Name
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
State of residence
West Virginia
Took office
June 9, 2014
Left office
January 20, 2017
Norris Cochran
Norris Cochran
No.
–
Name
Norris Cochran
State of residence
Florida
Took office
January 20, 2017
Left office
February 10, 2017
President(s)
Donald Trump(2017–2021)
Tom Price
Tom Price
No.
23
Name
Tom Price
State of residence
Georgia
Took office
February 10, 2017
Left office
September 29, 2017
Don J. Wright
Don J. Wright
No.
–
Name
Don J. Wright
State of residence
Virginia
Took office
September 29, 2017
Left office
October 10, 2017
Eric Hargan
Eric Hargan
No.
–
Name
Eric Hargan
State of residence
Illinois
Took office
October 10, 2017
Left office
January 29, 2018
Alex Azar
Alex Azar
No.
24
Name
Alex Azar
State of residence
Indiana
Took office
January 29, 2018
Left office
January 20, 2021
Norris Cochran
Norris Cochran
No.
–
Name
Norris Cochran
State of residence
Florida
Took office
January 20, 2021
Left office
March 19, 2021
President(s)
Joe Biden(2021–2025)
Xavier Becerra
Xavier Becerra
No.
25
Name
Xavier Becerra
State of residence
California
Took office
March 19, 2021
Left office
January 20, 2025
Dorothy Fink
Dorothy Fink
No.
–
Name
Dorothy Fink
State of residence
Pennsylvania
Took office
January 20, 2025
Left office
February 13, 2025
President(s)
Donald Trump(2025–present)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
No.
26
Name
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
State of residence
California
Took office
February 13, 2025
Left office
Incumbent
No.
Portrait
Name
State of residence
Took office
Left office
President(s)
13
Patricia Roberts Harris
District of Columbia
May 4, 1980
January 20, 1981
Jimmy Carter(1977–1981)
14
Richard Schweiker
Pennsylvania
January 22, 1981
February 3, 1983
Ronald Reagan(1981–1989)
15
Margaret Heckler
Massachusetts
March 10, 1983
December 13, 1985
16
Otis Bowen
Indiana
December 13, 1985
March 1, 1989
17
Louis W. Sullivan
Georgia
March 1, 1989
January 20, 1993
George H. W. Bush(1989–1993)
18
Donna Shalala
Wisconsin
January 22, 1993
January 20, 2001
Bill Clinton(1993–2001)
19
Tommy Thompson
Wisconsin
February 2, 2001
January 26, 2005
George W. Bush(2001–2009)
20
Mike Leavitt
Utah
January 26, 2005
January 20, 2009
–
Charles E. Johnson
Utah
January 20, 2009
April 28, 2009
Barack Obama(2009–2017)
21
Kathleen Sebelius
Kansas
April 28, 2009
June 9, 2014
22
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
West Virginia
June 9, 2014
January 20, 2017
–
Norris Cochran
Florida
January 20, 2017
February 10, 2017
Donald Trump(2017–2021)
23
Tom Price
Georgia
February 10, 2017
September 29, 2017
–
Don J. Wright
Virginia
September 29, 2017
October 10, 2017
–
Eric Hargan
Illinois
October 10, 2017
January 29, 2018
24
Alex Azar
Indiana
January 29, 2018
January 20, 2021
–
Norris Cochran
Florida
January 20, 2021
March 19, 2021
Joe Biden(2021–2025)
25
Xavier Becerra
California
March 19, 2021
January 20, 2025
–
Dorothy Fink
Pennsylvania
January 20, 2025
February 13, 2025
Donald Trump(2025–present)
26
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
California
February 13, 2025
Incumbent
· External links
Preceded byLori Chavez-DeRemeras Secretary of Labor
Preceded byLori Chavez-DeRemeras Secretary of Labor
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byLori Chavez-DeRemeras Secretary of Labor
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Order of precedence of the United Statesas Secretary of Health and Human Services
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Succeeded byScott Turneras Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
U.S. presidential line of succession
U.S. presidential line of succession
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded bySecretary of LaborLori Chavez-DeRemer
Preceded bySecretary of LaborLori Chavez-DeRemer
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded bySecretary of LaborLori Chavez-DeRemer
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
12th in line
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Succeeded bySecretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentScott Turner
order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byLori Chavez-DeRemeras Secretary of Labor
Order of precedence of the United Statesas Secretary of Health and Human Services
Succeeded byScott Turneras Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
presidential line of succession
Preceded bySecretary of LaborLori Chavez-DeRemer
12th in line
Succeeded bySecretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentScott Turner

References

  1. LII / Legal Information Institute
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/19
  2. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/rfk-trump-health-secretary-vote-5dbefeef0537dc241e6fb33b8f2a748b
  3. Foundations of Education: History and theory of teaching children and youths with visual impairments
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Fwu4iZpmCNMC&q=979%2C+the+Department+of+Health%2C+Education%2C+and+Welfare+was+renamed+the+Department+of+Health+and+Human+Services%2C&pg=PA51
  4. millercenter.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170207112800/http://millercenter.org/president/essays/harris-1977-secretary-of-housing-and-urban-development
  5. finance.senate.gov
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170207031354/https://www.finance.senate.gov/about/jurisdiction
  6. 5 U.S.C. § 5312
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/5312
  7. "Salary Table No. 2025-EX Rates of Basic Pay for the Executive Schedule (EX)"
    https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2025/EX.pdf
  8. "The President's Cabinet"
    http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/government/national/cabinet.html
  9. "HHS Agencies & Offices"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130920033526/http://www.hhs.gov/about/foa/opdivs/index.html
  10. Harris was Secretary on May 4, 1980, when the office changed names from Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to S
  11. Federal Register
    https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/02/20/08-797/providing-an-order-of-succession-within-the-department-of-health-and-human-services
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