History of United States Department of Health and Human Services in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 15, 2026

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a U.S. cabinet-level department overseeing healthcare guidelines and essential human services, including funding medical studies. Formerly the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) until 1979, HHS is led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by the President. The Surgeon General leads the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, addressing public health matters under the Secretary or Assistant Secretary for Health, and administering the Commissioned Corps.

1913: Department of Labor Created

In 1913, the Department of Labor was created, marking the establishment of a new cabinet-level department.

July 1, 1939: Federal Security Agency Established

On July 1, 1939, the Federal Security Agency (FSA) was established under the Reorganization Act of 1939 to consolidate federal programs in health, education, and social security.

January 21, 1953: Oveta Culp Hobby Becomes FSA Administrator

On January 21, 1953, Oveta Culp Hobby became the Federal Security Administrator, prior to becoming the first secretary of HEW later that year.

April 11, 1953: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Created

On April 11, 1953, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) was created, making it the first new Cabinet-level department since 1913. Oveta Culp Hobby was sworn in as the first secretary of HEW on the same day.

1954: Columbia Institution for the Deaf becomes Gallaudet College

In 1954, the Columbia Institution for the Deaf changed its name to Gallaudet College. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) was responsible for the institution at the time.

October 17, 1979: HEW Renamed HHS

On October 17, 1979, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after education functions were transferred to the new Department of Education.

1979: Department of Education Created

In 1979, the Department of Education was created as a separate entity, leading to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) being renamed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

1995: Social Security Administration Becomes Independent Agency

In 1995, the Social Security Administration was removed from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and established as an independent agency within the executive branch of the U.S. government.

2003: Project BioShield Established

In 2003, Project BioShield was established to develop and produce vaccines.

2004: Project BioShield Operating

In 2004, Project BioShield began operating, overseeing the development and production of vaccines.

2009: National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats deemed inadequate

In 2009, the existing National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats was deemed inadequate for protecting the U.S.

June 2010: Strengthening Communities Fund Created

In June 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services created the Strengthening Communities Fund as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, appropriating $50 million in grants to organizations engaged in Capacity Building programs.

2010: Healthcare Reform Reserve Fund Established

In 2010, the United States federal budget established a reserve fund of more than $630 billion over 10 years to finance fundamental reform of the health care system.

2012: Data Used for DHHS FOIA Responsiveness Ranking

In 2015, data from 2012 and 2013 was used in a Center for Effective Government analysis to rank the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) low in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responsiveness.

2013: Office of Refugee Resettlement Released Unaccompanied Children

Between 2013 and 2015, the HHS sub agency Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) released approximately 90,000 unaccompanied children but did not track their whereabouts or properly screen families accepting these children.

2013: DHHS FOIA Responsiveness Deteriorates

In 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) responsiveness deteriorated from a D−, contributing to a low ranking in a 2015 analysis.

2015: Office of Refugee Resettlement Released Unaccompanied Children

2015: Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense Report

In 2015, a Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense report found that the 2009 National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats was inadequate in protecting the U.S.

2015: DHHS Ranks Low in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Responsiveness

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) ranked second to last among 15 federal agencies in a Center for Effective Government analysis of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, earning an F grade.

2016: US Senate Report Reveals Trafficking of Unaccompanied Children

In 2016, a US Senate report revealed that several dozen unaccompanied children from Central America were released from custody to traffickers where they were sexually assaulted, starved, or forced to work.

2016: Biodefense Strategy Act Passed

In 2016, the Biodefense Strategy Act was passed, requiring the implementation of a biodefense strategy.

2016: Memorandum of Understanding Signed to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children

In 2016, the Homeland Security and Health & Human Services Departments signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to establish joint procedures for dealing with unaccompanied migrant children within one year.

December 2017: ORR Attempts to Contact Unaccompanied Children

Between October and December 2017, officials from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) tried to contact 7,635 children and their sponsors, finding that they lost track of 1,475 children.

2018: Failure to Establish Joint Procedures for Unaccompanied Migrant Children

As of 2018, the Homeland Security and Health & Human Services Departments failed to establish joint procedures for dealing with unaccompanied migrant children, despite signing a memorandum of understanding in 2016.

2018: HHS Releases New National Biodefense Strategy

In 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new National Biodefense Strategy, required by the 2016 Biodefense Strategy Act.

2019: Budget Changes Since 2019

Since 2019, budget changes, along with other modifications, comprised a total decrease of over $24 billion in revised discretionary budget authority across the entire Department of Health and Human Services for Fiscal Year 2020.

2020: HHS Budget Authorized for Fiscal Year 2020

In 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services was authorized a budget for fiscal year 2020 of $1.293 trillion.

2020: Budget Decreases for CDC and NIH in FY2020

In 2020, the FY2020 budget included a $1.276 billion budget decrease for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a $4.533 billion budget decrease for the National Institutes of Health.

March 2021: Loyce Pace Appointed Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs

In March 2021, Loyce Pace began serving as the Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs under the Biden administration.

August 2022: NIH Clinical Trial Oversight Failures Reported

In August 2022, the Office of the Inspector General for Health and Human Services reported that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had failed in its oversight of clinical trials, with a significant portion of trial results being tardy or unpublished.

February 2025: DHHS Plans to Eliminate Public Participation in Policy Decisions

In February 2025, it was reported that the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) planned to "eliminate public participation in many of the agency's policy decisions."

2025: HHS Organizational Structure to be Significantly Changed

At the beginning of 2025, the organizational structure of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to be significantly changed by the announced HHS reorganization, which is planned to reduce the number of top-level HHS divisions from 28 to 15.

2025: HHS Reorganization Announced

In 2025, planned changes as part of the announced HHS reorganization include merging five existing agencies into a new Administration for a Healthy America, reorienting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention towards infectious disease programs, breaking up the Administration for Community Living, and a reduction in workforce of about 20,000 full-time employees.