HHS Privacy Hub

20260504_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20260312_rev01 · ARCHIVE SNAPSHOT, DATE APPROXIMATE

Full text changes — 20260312_rev01 to 20260504_rev01

1The Office of the Secretary (OS) FOIA Program, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA), processes first-party requests for access to records covered by the Privacy Act of 1974 under both the Privacy Act and FOIA.
1- - About HHS
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3The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended ([5 U.S.C. 552a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml)),
3 HHS is a U.S. executive department that touches the lives of nearly all Americans by protecting your rights, research, food safety, health care, aging, and much more.
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5- Protects **records about individuals retrieved by personal identifiers** such as a name, social security number, or other identifying number or symbol. An individual has rights under the Privacy Act to seek access to and request correction (if applicable) or an accounting of disclosures of any such records maintained about him or her.
6- Prohibits disclosure of such records without the prior, written consent of the individual(s) to whom the records pertain, unless one of the thirteen disclosure exceptions enumerated in subsection (b) of the Act applies.
7- Requires such records to be described in [System of Records Notices (SORNs)](https://hhsgov-my.sharepoint.com/foia/privacy/sorns/index.html) published in the Federal Register and posted to the Internet.
8- Includes rules (in Statutory Notes) governing collection of the Social Security Number (SSN), which apply regardless of whether the SSN will be included in records retrieved by personal identifier.
9- With limited exceptions, prohibits maintenance of records describing how an individual exercises First Amendment rights.
10- Binds only federal agencies and covers only records under the control of federal agencies (and, by contract, also applies to contractor personnel and systems used by a federal agency to maintain the records).
11- HHS Privacy Act regulations ([45 CFR Part 5b](https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx))
5 - About the Department
6 - Press Room
7 - Careers
8 - Standards and Compliance
9 - Accountability and Transparency
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13**For assistance with a Privacy Act question or complaint** involving a specific HHS Operating Division's records, you may contact the appropriate [HHS Privacy Act Contacts](https://hhsgov-my.sharepoint.com/foia/privacy/contacts/index.html).
11- [RealFood.gov](https://realfood.gov/)
12- [MAHA](https://hhs.gov/one-year-of-maha/index.html)
13- - Programs & Services
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15**To submit a Privacy Act request to HHS**, please follow these instructions: [How to Make a Privacy Act Request](https://hhsgov-my.sharepoint.com/foia/privacy/how-make-privacy-act-request.html).
15 HHS is responsible for public health, health care, and human/social services for the United States of America. This includes administering over 100 programs and services.
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17## Privacy Act Resources
17 - Health Care
18 - Health Insurance
19 - Social Services
20 - Public Health and Prevention
21 - Health Research and Information
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19- [HHS Privacy Act Resources](file:///C:/foia/privacy/index.html)
20- [DOJ Privacy Act Overview](https://www.justice.gov/opcl/overview-privacy-act-1974-2020-edition)
21 The DOJ 2020 "Overview of the Privacy Act of 1974" is a discussion of the Privacy Act's various provisions, as addressed in court decisions.
22- [OMB Privacy Act Resources](https://www.fpc.gov/)
23- - Laws & Regulations
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25 HHS protects and helps you understand the laws and regulations, also known as "rules," that govern the nation. You also have the power to voice your opinion on these laws and regulations.
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27 - Regulatory Information
28 - Civil Rights
29 - Laws and Regulations by Topic
30 - Human Research Protections
31 - Complaints and Appeals
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33- - Grants & Contracts
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35 HHS gives the most money in grants of any federal agency in the U.S. Find out about our grants and how your organization can apply for them. We also provide information on how you can work with us and our support of small businesses.
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37 - Grants
38 - Contracts
39 - Small Business
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41- - Radical Transparency
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43 HHS protects and helps you understand the laws and regulations, also known as "rules," that govern the nation. You also have the power to voice your opinion on these laws and regulations.
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45 - [CDC's ACIP Conflicts of Interest](https://www.cdc.gov/acip/disclosures/by-member.html)
46 - [Ending Anti-Semitism on College Campuses](https://hhs.gov/about/news/2025/03/03/hhs-ed-gsa-announce-additional-measures-end-anti-semitic-harassment-college-campuses.html)
47 - [Ending Wasteful Spending](https://hhs.gov/radical-transparency/ending-wasteful-spending/index.html)
48 - [Keeping Food Ingredients Safe](https://hhs.gov/about/news/2025/03/10/hhs-secretary-kennedy-directs-fda-explore-rulemaking-eliminate-pathway-companies-self-affirm-food-ingredients-safe.html)
49 - [Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool](https://www.hfpappexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm)
50
51Breadcrumb
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531. [Home](https://hhs.gov/)
542. Privacy at HHS