HHS Reverses Biden-Era Tech Reorganization, Restores Office of the National Coordinator Name

In March 2026, the Trump administration reversed a 2024 Biden-era restructuring of HHS technology functions, restoring the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) name and removing the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy title. The Biden administration had moved the chief technology officer, chief data officer, and chief AI officer roles under ONC's purview in 2024, but the Trump administration returned these positions along with cybersecurity functions to the office of the chief information officer. The reorganization refocuses ONC on external IT coordination rather than internal HHS technology oversight, with stated goals of streamlining operations and improving patient access to health data and reducing friction in health record sharing.

Reversal of Biden-Era Organizational Structure

• ▪The March 2026 announcement reversed the Biden administration's changes by putting the chief technology officer, chief data officer, and chief AI officer roles back under the office of the chief information officer
• ▪In 2024, the Biden administration appended Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's title
• ▪The Trump administration changed the name of the federal health IT office back to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in March 2026
• ▪The Biden administration moved HHS' chief technology officer, chief data officer, and chief AI officer roles to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's purview in 2024
• ▪The March 2026 announcement moved some cybersecurity functions back under the office of the chief information officer

Refocusing ONC on External Health IT Coordination and Policy Priorities

• ▪The changes focus the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology on decreasing the friction in sharing health records
• ▪The March 2026 announcement reverted the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's organization to focus on external IT coordination instead of also overseeing Health and Human Services' internal use of technology

Perspective of Trump administration

• ▪The March 2026 reorganization streamlines the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's purview
• ▪The March 2026 changes focus the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology on getting patients their health data

Perspective of Biden administration

• ▪The 2024 HHS restructuring consolidated chief technology officer, chief data officer, and chief AI officer roles under unified leadership
• ▪The 2024 addition of Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's title elevated the office's authority over HHS technology functions