Story perspectives

HHS Splits Civil Rights Office into Three Liberty Divisions

5/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

May 18, 2026, HHS announced Office of Civil Rights will split into divisions—Conscience and Religious Freedom, Civil Rights, and Health Information Privacy and Cybersecurity.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said changes strengthen HHS’s ability to defend liberty and restores 2018 division by President Donald Trump removed in 2023.
A HHS official said staff levels unchanged, investigators and an executive will be added, and a Federal Register will be issued in June.

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Story summary

May 18, 2026, HHS announced Office of Civil Rights will split into divisions—Conscience and Religious Freedom, Civil Rights, and Health Information Privacy and Cybersecurity.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said changes strengthen HHS’s ability to defend liberty and restores 2018 division by President Donald Trump removed in 2023.
A HHS official said staff levels unchanged, investigators and an executive will be added, and a Federal Register will be issued in June.