Rachel Levine confirmed as assistant health secretary
She is also the highest-ranked openly transgender federal official.
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Senate confirms Dr. Rachel Levine
Dr. Rachel Levine has been confirmed by the Senate as assistant secretary of health, becoming the highest-ranking openly transgender federal official and the first ever in a Senate-confirmed role. CBSN's Vladimir Duthiers and Anne-Marie Green have more.
Refugee agency to fast-track release of some migrant children
This guidance is the Biden administration's latest effort to address the soaring number of unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border.
Xavier Becerra headed for confirmation as health secretary
The Senate voted Thursday to discharge Becerra's nomination, allowing it to be taken up by the full Senate.
Harris announces $250 million grant funding
Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday announced that the Biden administration will invest $250 million in federal grants to community organizations that work to address gaps in the response to COVID-19, according to an official at the Department of Health and Human Services. CBSN's "Red & Blue" host Elaine Quijano has more.
Biden nominates Dr. Rachel Levine
President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine to be assistant secretary of health. If confirmed by the Senate, she'll be the highest-ranking openly transgender federal official in the U.S. CBS Philly has details.
Transcript: Jerome Adams on "Face the Nation"
The following is a transcript of an interview with Surgeon General Jerome Adams that aired Sunday, December 20, 2020, on "Face the Nation."
Official takes responsibility for "miscommunication" on COVID-19 vaccine
"Please accept my personal apologies if this was disruptive to your decision-making," said Army General Gustave Perna, the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed.
Report: Trump adviser pushed "herd immunity"
A former Trump adviser reportedly encouraged top health officials to allow "herd immunity" as the nation's strategy against coronavirus. Politico obtained internal emails between Paul Alexander and other officials in which he appears to urge the government to let millions of Americans to become infected. Politico health reporter Dan Diamond joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano with more on his reporting.
Azar says all nursing home residents could be vaccinated by Christmas
The first shipments of a coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and German partner BioNTech are now making their way to states.
Transcript: Alex Azar on "Face the Nation"
The following is a transcript of an interview with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar that aired Sunday, December 13, 2020, on "Face the Nation."
Biden introduces health team & pandemic plan
President-elect Joe Biden introduced his choices for top health positions in his administration, including Health and Human Services Secretary-nominee Xavier Becerra and Dr. Vivek Murthy for Surgeon General. Biden also said he'd roll out a 100-day plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging all Americans to wear masks and rolling out vaccines to millions of people. Watch his remarks.
Biden nominates Xavier Becerra to lead HHS
Becerra, 62, has served as California's top prosecutor since 2017 when he succeeded now-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the role.
Who are Biden's top choices for HHS?
The coronavirus pandemic has put extra focus on President-elect Joe Biden's pick for his health and human services secretary. The Biden transition team has declined to give any specifics on candidates. Alice Ollstein, a health care reporter for Politico, joins CBSN to discuss Mr. Biden's potential picks and more.
Questions about ad campaign on COVID response
A $300 million advertising campaign by the Department of Health and Human Services that was intended to "inspire hope" about the response to COVID-19 is coming under scrutiny. Politico health care reporter Dan Diamond joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano to discuss why some agency officials and even celebrities are backing out.
Trump health aide taking leave of absence after targeting CDC scientists
Caputo accused government scientists of withholding effective COVID-19 treatments to hurt President Trump.
Trump and Biden talk wildfires and climate
Both President Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden spoke Monday about the wildfires burning across the West. Mr. Trump disputed the science of climate change, while Biden called him a "climate arsonist." CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang joins CBSN to talk about the latest from Washington.
HHS spokesman says he recieved death threat during Facebook broadcast
During the session, Caputo said scientists "haven't gotten out of their sweatpants except for meetings at coffee shops" to plot "how they're going to attack Donald Trump next."
Former HHS Sec. urges national coronavirus testing strategy
"It will be the backbone on which we can build the rest of bringing the parts of the economy back more fully," Former Secretary Sylvia Burwell told "Face the Nation"'s Margaret Brennan
Nursing homes under scrutiny amid pandemic
As coronavirus nursing home deaths continue to rise across the country, CBS News took a look at policies in New York and Florida that allow COVID-19 patients into long-term care facilities, and spoke to a former employee of a nursing home in New York who alleges COVID-19 patients were not separated from other residents, which may have led to deaths. David Begnaud reports from Miami.
Azar: "The presumption should be to get our kids back to school"
Schools around the country are weighing how best to reopen in the fall as the coronavirus crisis worsens in many states.
Transcript: Sec. Alex Azar on "Face the Nation"
The following is a transcript of an interview with former HHS Secretary Alex Azar that aired Sunday, July 26, 2020, on "Face the Nation."
Pfizer to provide U.S. with 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses
U.S. government will pay pharmaceutical firms almost $2 billion, with a pledge to provide the vaccines for free.
Trump administration orders hospitals to bypass CDC in reporting COVID data
The White House Coronavirus Task Force is instructing hospitals to submit COVID data to the Health and Human Services Department instead, prompting concerns about transparency.
U.S. supply of remdesivir could run out within weeks, top official warns
The drug, manufactured by Gilead, was found to have shortened the recovery time for hospitalized coronavirus patients.
Appeals court rules many of Trump's tariffs are illegal, but doesn't halt them
A federal appeals court said many of the tariffs imposed by President Trump on dozens of countries earlier this year are not legally permissible, but didn't halt them.
Illinois Gov. Pritzker says sending troops to Chicago would be an "invasion"
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told CBS News that President Trump has "other aims" aside from fighting crime, as he vows to crack down in Chicago.
SSA chief data officer resigns after filing whistleblower complaint
Charles Borges filed a whistleblower complaint alleging DOGE employees uploaded a copy of all U.S. Social Security info to a "vulnerable cloud environment."
Pentagon mulls speeding process to reinstate troops discharged over COVID vaccine
Veterans forced out under the mandate have been frustrated by what they described as a slow, arduous process to return to service.
Missouri's Republican governor calls special session on redistricting
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe made the announcement just hours after Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a new congressional voting map designed to help Republicans gain five more seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Judge blocks Trump admin. from expanding fast-track deportations nationwide
A federal judge dealt a major blow to the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts late Friday, blocking it from expanding a process called expedited removal nationwide.
CVS and Walgreens limit access to COVID vaccines as required by some state guidelines
CVS said the pharmacy chain cannot vaccinate those even with a prescription in Massachusetts, Nevada and New Mexico due to state laws and regulations.
Bones found in search for father accused of killing 3 daughters
The FBI said it found bones while searching for signs of Travis Decker. The bones were being analyzed to determine if they are human or animal.
Exclusive
Joni Ernst won't seek reelection to Senate in 2026, sources say
GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa is expected to announce next week she's not running for reelection in 2026.