Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations Breadcrumb
    Home
                              About
                              Strategic Plan
                              Strategic Plan FY 2022 – 2026
                              Strategic Goal 4
 Navigate to:
  HHS Family of Agencies
                                            
            
            HHS Agencies & Offices
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Regional Offices
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Advisory Committees, Task Forces & Initiatives
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Organizational Chart
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      Leadership
    
                                                  
                                                    
            
      
      
      
      Budget & Performance
                                            
            
            FY 2025 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2025 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2024 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2024 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2024 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2023 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2023 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2023 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2022 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2022 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2022 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2021 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2021 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2021 Annual Performance Plan and Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2020 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2020 Budget in Brief
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      FY 2020 Annual Performance Report
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FY 2019 Contingency Staffing Plan
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      FY 2019 Annual Performance Report
    
                                                  
                                                                                        
                          
      
      
      
      Strategic Plan FY 2022 - 2026
                                            
            
            Message from the Secretary
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Introduction: About HHS
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Overview: Strategic Plan FY 2022 - 2026
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 1: Protect and Strengthen Equitable Access to High Quality and Affordable Healthcare
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 2: Safeguard and Improve National and Global Health Conditions and Outcomes
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 3: Strengthen Social Well-Being, Equity, and Economic Resilience
    
                                                  
                                                                  
                          
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 4: Restore Trust and Accelerate Advancements in Science and Research for All
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Strategic Goal 5: Advance Strategic Management to Build Trust, Transparency, and Accountability
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Appendix: Plan Updates
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      News
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      I Am HHS
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      CareersText resize icon

                    




Strategic Goal 4: Restore Trust and Accelerate Advancements in Science and Research for All








  
  
    

  
      



**Strategic Objective 4.1:****Improve the design, delivery, and outcomes of HHS programs by prioritizing science, evidence, and inclusion**

**Strategic Objective 4.2:****Invest in the research enterprise and the scientific workforce to maintain leadership in the development of innovations that broaden our understanding of disease, healthcare, public health, and human services resulting in more effective interventions, treatments, and programs**

**Strategic Objective 4.3:****Strengthen surveillance, epidemiology, and laboratory capacity to understand and equitably address diseases and conditions**

**Strategic Objective 4.4:****Improve data collection, use, and evaluation, to increase evidence-based knowledge that leads to better health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and improved social well-being, equity, and economic resilience**

HHS is dedicated to restoring trust and accelerating advancements in science and research.  The Department is prioritizing science, evidence, and inclusion to improve the design, delivery, and outcomes of HHS programs.  It is investing in the research enterprise and the scientific workforce to maintain leadership in the development of innovations that broaden our understanding of disease, healthcare, public health, and human services resulting in more effective interventions, treatments, and programs.  Strengthening surveillance, epidemiology, and laboratory capacity is another major focus to better understand and equitably address diseases and conditions.  HHS is also increasing evidence-based knowledge through improved data collection, use, and evaluation efforts to achieve better health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and improved social well-being, equity, and economic resilience.

In the context of HHS, this Strategic Plan adopts the definition of *underserved communities* listed in Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government to refer to “populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life”; this definition includes individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.  Individuals may belong to more than one underserved community and face intersecting barriers.  This definition applies to the terms *underserved communities* and *underserved populations* throughout this Strategic Plan.

*Related Executive Orders (EO) and White House Action Plans, Memoranda, and Guidance:*

EO 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government
	EO 13988: Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation
	EO 13994: Ensuring a Data-Driven Response to COVID-19 and Future High-Consequence Public Health Threats
	EO 13995: Ensuring an Equitable COVID-19 Recovery and Response
	EO 13997: Improving and Expanding Access to Care and Treatments for COVID-⁠19
	EO 14020: Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council
	EO 14031: Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
	EO 14035: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce
	EO 14041: White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity Through Historically Black Colleges and Universities
	EO 14058: Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery To Rebuild Trust in Government
	EO 14091: Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
	HHS Policy for Protection of Human Subjects
	Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking
	Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships
	National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness
	Path Out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan
	White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Recommended Policy Guidance for Departmental Development of Review Mechanisms for Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight (P3CO), January 2017*Related Legislation:*

21st Century Cures Act
	Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2018
	Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020
	Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects
	Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (the “Evidence Act”)
	Public Health Service (PHS) Policies on Research MisconductWithin HHS, all divisions are working to achieve Strategic Goal 4.

Back to top

<< Strategic Plan FY22-26

Strategic Objective 4.1 >>

                    
  


Content created by Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Content last reviewed January 19, 2024 Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​