The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a reorganization within its Office of the General Counsel (OGC). Acting General Counsel Sean Keveney revealed plans to consolidate the department's regional offices from ten to four, maintaining locations in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Kansas City (MO), and Denver. This move aims to provide geographic support for regional HHS offices while reducing operating costs.
The reorganization aligns with Secretary Kennedy's mission to "Make America Healthy Again." A new senior position, Chief Counsel for Food, Research, and Drugs, has been created. This role will oversee the FDA Chief Counsel and other divisions within OGC. Robert Foster, currently serving as FDA Chief Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at OGC, will assume this position.
"We’ve been able to recruit higher quality personnel to HHS than in any time in its history,” stated HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He emphasized that these individuals are expected to return the agency's focus to science-based public health rather than industry interests.
Additionally, Hilary Perkins is set to become the Chief Counsel at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this capacity, she will serve as the primary legal advisor to the commissioner and an associate deputy general counsel. Perkins joins FDA from her previous role at the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division.
