This profile outlines the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), focusing on its organizational structure and its role in biosecurity policy. See also our complementary profiles on the HHS divisions most relevant to biosecurity:

HHS > Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

ASPR’s mission is to “assist the country in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies and disasters.” It runs the Strategic National Stockpile, BARDA, and other biosecurity efforts.

HHS > Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) 

CDC’s mission is to protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and domestic. The agency provides public health expertise, conducts research, and plays a central role in biosecurity, responding to disease outbreaks, pandemics, and biological threats.

HHS > Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

FDA ensures the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs, biological products, and medical devices, and it oversees food safety and tobacco regulation. The agency mainly contributes to biosecurity by regulating vaccines, treatments, and medical countermeasures.

HHS > National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH is the primary federal agency for biomedical and public health research and is the largest funding source for medical research globally. It supports various research initiatives aimed at advancing health, preventing disease, and ensuring biothreat preparedness.

Overview

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plays a crucial role in healthcare, public health, medical research, and social services. As one of the largest federal departments, HHS oversees wideranging programs and initiatives, from Medicare and Medicaid to food and drug safety, disease prevention, and biomedical research.

HHS plays a central role in national biosecurity efforts. The department is responsible for preparing for and responding to biological threats, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. Through agencies like the Administration for Strategic for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS leads efforts in biodefense, pandemic preparedness, and the development of medical countermeasures. The department’s work in biosecurity spans from conducting research on dangerous pathogens to coordinating national responses to biological incidents.

HHS is also becoming increasingly involved in AI policy, particularly regarding healthcare, medical research, and public health. The department is exploring the use of AI in drug discovery, personalized medicine, health data analysis, and improving healthcare delivery. HHS components such as NIH, FDA, and CDC are all engaged in various aspects of AI research, development, and regulation in their respective domains.

Background on HHS

Source: USASpending
  • Government context: HHS is one of 15 executive departments in the US government; the Secretary is a member of the US president’s cabinet
  • Mission: to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services
  • Main activities: administers Medicare and Medicaid, funds and conducts medical research, regulates food and drugs, prevents the outbreak and spread of diseases, and offers various social services programs
  • Budgetary resources: ~$3.07 trillion (FY 2024), the largest budget of any federal department, although most of this is mandatory spending for programs like Medicare and Medicaid
  • Staff: ~80,000 employees, making it one of the larger federal departments in terms of workforce
  • Brief history: created in 1953 as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW); the education functions were spun off into a separate Department of Education in 1979, at which point HHS was established in its current form.
  • Dep. of Health and Human Services Agency Performance Dashboard, Partnership for Public Service

HHS and biosecurity policy

HHS plays a central role in the nation’s biosecurity efforts, working to prevent, prepare for, and respond to biological threats that could impact public health. The department’s biosecurity responsibilities encompass a wide range of activities, including:

  1. Research on dangerous pathogens: Conducting and overseeing research on high-risk pathogens to improve understanding and develop countermeasures, including by developing and enforcing biosafety guidelines and regulations on laboratories.
  2. Medical countermeasure development: Supporting the research, development, and stockpiling of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for potential biological threats.
  3. Biosurveillance: Monitoring for emerging biological threats, coordinating early warning systems, and conducting regular risk assessments.
  4. Emergency response: Coordinating the health and medical response to biological incidents, and strengthening the overall public health system to increase resilience.
  5. Biodefense and bioterrorism prevention: Collaborating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent, plan for, and recover from deliberate biological attacks.
  6. International collaboration: Engaging in global partnerships and information sharing to enhance worldwide biosecurity efforts and response capabilities.

2022 National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan

In 2022, the White House published the government-wide National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan. The plan assigns a (co)lead role to HHS on a large majority of responsibilities across each of its five goals, underscoring the central role the Department plays in preparing for and responding to biological risks.

After the ratification of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1975, HHS, primarily through CDC, became involved in efforts to monitor and respond to biological threats. In the wake of the 2001 anthrax attacks, HHS, through CDC, launched the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program to improve state and local response capabilities. In 2005, HHS established the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) to advise the Federal government on biosecurity issues and options for addressing them. The creation of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in 2006 formalized biosecurity leadership, focusing on coordinating federal responses to health emergencies. Additional developments include the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, which prompted expanded efforts to bolster pandemic preparedness, and the 2014 Ebola outbreak

During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS coordinated the national public health response. HHS expanded healthcare capacity, secured medical supplies, and led the development and distribution of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics through Operation Warp Speed (alongside DOD, DOE, and other agencies). CDC issued public health guidance and managed disease surveillance, FDA authorized the emergency use of vaccines and treatments, and ASPR funded advanced research and managed the strategic national stockpile. HHS also provided funding and resources to state and local health departments to support testing and contact tracing. The agency focused on ensuring vaccine distribution to underserved communities and supported high-risk populations, including those in long-term care facilities. The HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) provided oversight of HHS’ COVID-19 response and continues to publish reports summarizing the Department’s role and lessons learned. 

Additional recent highlights are listed below (this list is not comprehensive):

Organizational structure

HHS is led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Secretary is supported by the Deputy Secretary and directly oversees the Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS) and the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA). 

HHS is organized into the Office of the Secretary (OS) and 13 operating divisions. OS oversees 14 offices and provides leadership and oversight for all HHS activities. The operating divisions include ten agencies within the US Public Health Service (USPHS) and three focused on human services. In short, agencies within the USPHS emphasize health outcomes for populations through research and prevention, while human services focus on broader social support and improving the overall quality of life for individuals and families.

Visit HHS’s complete organizational chart, which includes links to each office’s org chart. In March 2025, HHS announced a restructuring in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”

Highlighted below are some of the more prominent offices and operating divisions relevant for biosecurity.

Office of the Secretary (OS)

The OS acts as HHS’s chief policy officer and general manager, overseeing the department’s policy, strategy, programs, and operations, with support from the Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, and various offices.

Among OS’ 14 offices, the following appear especially relevant to those interested in working on biosecurity: 

  • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH): oversees the Department’s public health offices and programs, a number of Presidential and Secretarial advisory committees, ten regional health offices across the nation, and the Office of the Surgeon General and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
  • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation (ASL): serves as the primary link between HHS and Congress. ASL’s Office of Health Legislation has a portfolio that includes CDC, FDA, and NIH.
  • Office of Global Affairs (OGA): coordinates international health and human services policy, including global health security initiatives. OGA offices are dedicated to specific policies and programs as well as regional offices around the world. For biosecurity, OGA’s office for Pandemics and Emerging Threats (PET) is especially relevant.

Operating divisions

In contrast to OS, HHS’ 13 operating divisions are more specialized entities that work on public health services, research, and regulation based on the guidance provided by the Secretary’s office.

Below is the full list of HHS operating divisions: 

There’s a list of offices here, which are omitted from this narration.

  1. Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
  2. Administration for Community Living (ACL)
  3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
  4. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
  5. Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
  6. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  8. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  9. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  10. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  11. Indian Health Service (IHS)
  12. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  13. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

The following sections briefly highlight five HHS operating divisions and offices within them that may play an especially important role in biosecurity and pandemic preparedness. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

→ See also our full CDC profile.

CDC’s role in biosecurity efforts include overseeing disease surveillance, setting biosafety standards, advancing global health security, coordinating emergency responses, and conducting research on emerging infectious diseases. To detect and monitor biological threats, the agency operates multiple surveillance systems such as the National Syndromic Surveillance Program and the National Wastewater Surveillance System. Through the Laboratory Response Network, CDC establishes laboratory safety standards both nationally and globally to prevent the accidental or intentional release of pathogens. Internationally, it works to identify and contain outbreaks at their source to avert global threats. The agency also coordinates responses to public health emergencies via its Emergency Operations Center within the Office of Readiness and Response. Additionally, CDC conducts and supports research critical for biosecurity—including emerging infectious diseases, vaccine development, and diagnostic technologies—through its Prevention Research Centers.

Specific CDC offices involved in biosecurity include the Office of Readiness and Response (coordinates emergency management), the Division of Regulatory Science and Compliance (manages the Federal Select Agent Program regulating dangerous pathogens), the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (develops disease modeling tools), and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (focuses on diseases crossing between animals and humans). Other components are the Global Health Center, the Office of Laboratory Science and Safety, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, all contributing to biosecurity through surveillance, regulation, research, and preparedness efforts. Of note, CDC offers a two-year postgraduate training program for “disease detectives” in the Epidemic Intelligence Service.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

→ See also our full NIH profile.

NIH’s role in biosecurity efforts include funding, supporting, and managing risks associated with fundamental research on infectious diseases. NIH comprises 27 relatively independent institutes, centers, and offices (ICOs) and allocates about 80% of its budget to research conducted by external institutions and the remaining 20% to research and work within the agency. Related to biosecurity, NIH ICOs conduct studies on dangerous pathogens, emerging infectious diseases, biosurveillance systems, and predictive modeling, contributing to the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools essential for national preparedness against biological threats. In addition to funding and conducting research, NIH also develops biosafety and biosecurity guidelines, fosters international collaborations, and shapes national biosecurity policies. 

Specific NIH offices involved in biosecurity include the Office of Science Policy, which develops and implements biosafety and biosecurity guidelines and oversees dual-use research of concern; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which conducts and funds research on infectious and immune-mediated diseases and manages biodefense initiatives; and the Fogarty International Center, which fosters international collaborations and capacity building to address global biological threats. Additionally, the Division of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Emerging Biotechnologies and the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity provide policy development and advisory support, while specialized NIAID divisions, such as the Office of Biodefense Research and Surety and the Vaccine Research Center, contribute through research, surveillance, and preparedness efforts.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

→ See also our full FDA profile.

FDA’s role in biosecurity includes expediting the development and approval of medical countermeasures, issuing Emergency Use Authorizations to allow the use of unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved products during public health emergencies, protecting the food supply from intentional contamination, developing regulatory frameworks for emerging biotechnologies that may have dual-use potential, and fostering global collaborations to enhance pandemic preparedness. 

FDA offices involved in biosecurity include the Office of the Chief Scientist, which ensures biosafety in laboratories and oversees scientific collaborations and oversees the Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats, which leads initiatives related to bioterrorism and coordinates medical countermeasures. Additionally, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and Center Drug Evaluation and Research regulate biological products and drugs essential for medical countermeasures, while the Center for Devices and Radiological Health oversees medical devices related to pathogen detection and response.

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

→ See also our full ASPR profile.

ASPR’s role in biosecurity includes coordinating efforts to strengthen preparedness, funding advanced research, managing the Strategic National Stockpile, and ensuring effective response mechanisms during crises. ASPR primarily focuses on domestic health-related emergencies and disasters. It plays a particularly prominent role in the interagency through the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Requirements (SPR). SPR also oversees the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise and Potential Pandemic Pathogens Care and Oversight.

ASPR offices especially relevant to biosecurity include the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which develops vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools for medical countermeasures; the Center for Preparedness, which handles preparation for biological threats and coordinates with other federal and local agencies; and the Center for Response, which manages public health and healthcare response systems. Additionally, the HHS Coordination Operations and Response Element synchronizes medical countermeasure efforts across the federal government. 

In March 2025, HHS announced a major departmental restructuring that transferred ASPR to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)

ARPA-H aims to accelerate the development of transformative health innovations. It funds high-risk, high-reward research to solve pressing health challenges, aiming to improve disease prevention, detection, and treatment. Similar in structure and approach to DARPA and IARPA, ARPA-H selects Program Managers addressing a specific health-related problem. ARPA-H has four Mission Offices: Health Science Futures, Scalable Solutions, Proactive Health, and Resilient Systems. 

ARPA-H’s Project Accelerator Transition Innovation Office (PATIO) provides services across program managers, spanning the lifecycle of ARPA-H projects and programs. The agency’s Division of International Affairs formulates and executes the agency’s global collaboration strategy by identifying international stakeholders, potential partners, and research opportunities.

Several ARPA-H programs appear particularly relevant to those interested in working on biosecurity or AI:

  • Antigens Predicted for Broad Viral Efficacy through Computational Experimentation (APECx): Funds research to develop computational tools helping to design vaccines that target many viruses at once.
  • Building Resilient Environments for Air and Total HEalth (BREATHE): Funds the creation of a scalable platform to improve indoor air quality across the country.
  • Performance and Reliability Evaluation for Continuous Modifications and Useability of AI (PRECISE-AI): Funds the development of techniques to automatically identify and correct performance degradation of AI-enabled clinical decision support tools.
  • Chatbot Accuracy and Reliability Evaluation Exploration Topic (CARE ET): Funds the development of novel technical approaches to improve the testing and evaluation of chatbot outputs for patient-facing applications.

Working at HHS

HHS offers a wide range of career opportunities across its various agencies and offices. The department hires professionals from diverse backgrounds, including public health, medicine, research, policy, law, and administration. 

Work locations for those interested in HHS or its agencies include a range of sites. HHS and ASPR are headquartered in Washington, DC; NIH in Bethesda, MD; and FDA in White Oak, MD; while CDC’s main office is in Atlanta, GA. Additional opportunities exist in regional offices and laboratories throughout the US.

For early-career opportunities like internships and fellowships, visit HHS’s page for students and recent graduates. HHS participates in the Pathways Program, which offers internships and entry-level positions for students and recent graduates. Additionally, internship opportunities can be found in the Federal Internship Finder and the USAJOBS Federal Internship Portal, filtering for “Department of Health and Human Services”. 

Notable internships, fellowships, and other early-career opportunities at HHS and its operating divisions include:

There’s a list of fellowship and internship programs here, which are omitted from this narration.

  • Fellowships facilitating placements at HHS and other agencies:
  • CDC (internships):
    • Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS): a 2-year full-time post-graduate fellowship in applied epidemiology at CDC’s headquarters in Atlanta for MD or PhD graduates, typically with MPH degrees—EIS officers are referred to as CDC’s on-call “disease detectives”.
    • CDC / Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Applied Epidemiology Fellowship (AEF): designed after the Epidemic Intelligence Service, AEF is a 2-year paid fellowship program for those with a master’s or doctoral degree in epidemiology or related field for training in applied epidemiology and public health at a state or local health agency.
    • CDC Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship: CDC’s Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness (PE) Fellowship is a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship focusing on health economics, decision science, and disease modeling. This fellowship offers a Traditional Track and Analytics and Modeling Track. The fellowship builds CDC’s ability to assess the effectiveness of public health interventions and evidence-based decision-making. It recruits the majority of economists and disease modelers at CDC
    • APHL-CDC Fellowships: 1-2 year paid fellowships available in collaboration with public health laboratories including on topics related to biosecurity and biosafety, emergency preparedness and response, environmental health (including wastewater pathogen monitoring), and infectious disease.
    • Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE): a CDC funded fellowship with summer, 6-month, and 12-month, part-time and full-time programs that place fellows at their partner organizations, including CDC. 
    • Public Health Associate Program (PHAP): a 2-year training program for recent college graduates to gain hands-on experience in public health program operations nationwide.
    • Future Public Health Leaders Program (FPHLP): a 10-week residential summer program for college students and recent graduates, including placements in non-profits, health systems, or government agencies and health departments to consider careers in public health.
    • Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS): a 2-year fellowship focusing on laboratory science and leadership, preparing scientists to become future public health laboratory leaders.
  • NIH (internships):
    • Office of Science Policy (OSP) Summer Internship Program: 8-12 week, virtual, paid internship for undergrad and graduate students to gain experience in science policy.
    • Intramural research:
      • Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities (INRO): a pathway to becoming a research trainee at NIAID (very biosecurity focused) for undergrad and master’s students in their last year and recent master’s grads.
      • Postbac Program: a 1-2 year paid research position for recent grads to work a full-time research position in an NIH ICO.
      • NIH Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Fellow: provides opportunities for recent college graduates and graduate students to conduct biomedical research at NIH.
      • Summer Internship Program (SIP): a paid summer internship for college, graduate, and professional school students to conduct research with an NIH ICO.
      • Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP): a paid opportunity for graduate students to perform research or complete their dissertation in the NIH Intramural Research Program while enrolled in a doctoral program in the US or abroad.
  • FDA (internships):
    • Regulatory Pharmaceutical Fellowship Program: 2-year program to train fellows on one of six tracks focused on drug information, medication safety, regulatory advertising and promotion, regulatory affairs and policy, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, or regulatory science. 
    • Research and Science Traineeship Program (FRST Program): a research opportunity for pre- and post-doctoral scientists and physicians having a background or interest in any field of science related to FDA mission programs. Stipends and durations vary but may not exceed 5 years.
    • Fellowship in Genomic Science and Health Equity: trains fellows to use genetic and pharmacogenomic approaches to advance minority health and equity, focusing on research, regulatory sciences, and barriers to clinical trial participation.
  • ASPR (internships):

To find open full-time positions at HHS, visit the HHS Careers page as well as the Agencies & Roles page, which explains each office’s function and their positions. In addition, visit USAJOBS and filter for “Department of Health and Human Services”. Following HHS on LinkedIn can keep you updated about their activities and new job postings.

If you want to apply, check out our federal agency application advice section for guides to USAJOBS, federal resumes, interviewing for federal positions, and more.

Further reading