HHS Strips AI and Cybersecurity Out of ONC, Reversing 2024 Reorganization
The Department of Health and Human Services is reversing a July 2024 reorganization that consolidated major technology roles under the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The move shifts the Chief Technology Officer, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, Chief Data Officer, and cybersecurity functions back to the HHS Chief Information Officer, led by Clark Minor.
The ONC returns to its original title, dropping the dual designation as Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy that was created in 2024.
What Changed
The 2024 reorganization created a sprawling technology portfolio under the ONC. That structure is now dismantled.
- Title reversion: The ONC no longer carries the dual ASTP/ONC designation.
- C-suite realignment: The CTO, CAIO, and CDO roles move to the Chief Information Officer's office.
- Cybersecurity return: Specific cybersecurity functions that left the OCIO in 2024 come back.
How Responsibilities Now Split
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO): Clark Minor's office becomes the enterprise backbone for cloud, cybersecurity, data, and AI across HHS. Three divisions report to him: Strategic Technology & Innovation (CTO), Responsible AI (CAIO), and Enterprise Data Governance & Analytics (CDO).
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC): Led by National Coordinator Dr. Thomas Keane, the ONC focuses exclusively on health IT policy, standards, certification, and interoperability. It retains responsibility for AI coordination within clinical care specifically.
The ONC reports directly to the HHS Secretary, maintaining its separate authority from the broader IT infrastructure work.
The Operational Logic
HHS leadership framed the separation as a speed play. By having the OCIO build and secure infrastructure while the ONC sets health technology policy, the department aims to move faster on "true data liquidity" across the U.S. healthcare system.
The theory: clearer lines of responsibility mean quicker decisions on how AI and data capabilities get deployed to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.
For operations professionals managing HHS technology portfolios, this means the enterprise IT backbone-cloud, cybersecurity, data governance-now sits in one office rather than split across two. Learn more about how CIOs are managing AI responsibilities in similar restructuring efforts, or explore AI for operations roles.
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