HHS Announces Reorganization of Office of the General Counsel

March 12, 2025
HHS consolidates regional offices from 10 to 4, creates a Chief Counsel for Food, Research, and Drugs, and appoints new legal advisors at FDA and OGC.

According to a March 11 press release, the Sean Keveney, Acting General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a reorganization of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC).

The press release stated, “As part of the department’s ongoing efforts to advance the Secretary Kennedy’s mission to Make America Healthy Again, OGC will consolidate the number of regional offices from 10 to four. Regional offices will be maintained in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Kansas City (MO), and Denver, which will provide the same geographic support for regional HHS offices at lower operating costs.

“As part of reorganizing around Secretary Kennedy’s priorities, OGC has created a senior position, the Chief Counsel for Food, Research, and Drugs. The Chief Counsel will be responsible for supervising the FDA Chief Counsel, including the Food and Drug Division of OGC, and the National Institutes of Health Branch of OGC. Robert Foster, the current FDA Chief Counsel and Deputy General Counsel in OGC, will serve as the Chief Counsel for Food, Research, and Drugs.”

The press release added that Hilary Perkins will take the role of Chief Counsel at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), serving as primary legal advisor to the commissioner and as an associate deputy general counsel. Perkins recently joined FDA from the Department of Justice.

About the Author

Janette Wider | Editor-in-Chief

Janette Wider is Editor-in-Chief for Healthcare Purchasing News.

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