Skip Navigation
United States Flag

An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know >

Change Font Size

Top Management & Performance Challenges Facing HHS


The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has identified 10 top management and performance challenges facing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as it strives to fulfill its mission "to enhance the health and well-being of Americans by providing effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services." These top challenges arise across HHS programs, including, Medicare, Medicaid, the Public Health Service, and the Indian Health Service. These challenges cover critical HHS responsibilities that include delivering quality services and benefits, exercising sound fiscal management, safeguarding public health and safety, and enhancing cybersecurity. OIG maintains a list of recommended solutions to address vulnerabilities detected in its audits and evaluations and identifies the top unimplemented recommendations that, if implemented, are likely to garner significant savings and improvements in efficiency and effectiveness. Unimplemented recommendations may be found on our website.

In this presidential transition year, HHS must address these challenges while undertaking the additional important responsibility of conducting a well-orchestrated transition to new leadership, consistent with the executive order on "Facilitation of a Presidential Transition" and other requirements. The transition will require heightened focus on effective coordination across HHS operating divisions, continuity of operations, and emergency preparedness. This transition must be accomplished while maintaining and strengthening HHS's many complex programs and protecting and serving its beneficiaries.

Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201