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Eric Hargan
Eric D. Hargan official photo.jpg
United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office
October 6, 2017 – January 20, 2021
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Bill Corr
Succeeded by Andrea Palm
Acting
February 4, 2007 – August 5, 2007
President George W. Bush
Preceded by Alex Azar
Succeeded by Tevi Troy
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
Acting
October 10, 2017 – January 29, 2018
President Donald Trump
Preceded by Don J. Wright
Succeeded by Alex Azar
Personal details
Born
Eric David Hargan

(1968-06-03) June 3, 1968 (age 57)
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
Political party Republican
Children 2
Education Harvard University (BA)
Columbia University (JD)

Eric David Hargan (born June 3, 1968) is an American lawyer and government official. He is known for his work in the United States government. From October 2017 to January 2021, he served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. This is a very important job in the government.

Hargan is a member of the Republican Party. He also held this same role in 2007. That was during the time George W. Bush was president. On October 10, 2017, President Donald Trump chose Hargan to be the acting United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. He held this position until January 29, 2018. After that, Alex Azar took over the job.

Early Life and Education

Eric Hargan was born in 1968 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He grew up in a town called Mounds, Illinois. He went to Harvard University and earned a degree in philosophy. Later, he studied law at Columbia Law School. While there, he was a senior editor for the Columbia Law Review. This is a publication that shares legal ideas.

Career in Government

Eric Hargan official portrait
Hargan's HHS portrait during the George W. Bush administration

Eric Hargan has spent many years working for the government. From 2003 to 2007, he worked for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is a big part of the government. It helps protect the health of all Americans. It also provides important human services.

Working at HHS

From 2003 to 2005, Hargan was a Deputy General Counsel for HHS. This means he was a top lawyer for the department. He helped make sure HHS followed all the laws. From 2005 to 2007, he became the Principal Associate Deputy Secretary. He was also the Acting Deputy Secretary. In these roles, he helped manage how the department worked every day. He worked closely with the Secretary, Mike Leavitt.

Hargan also helped create new rules for HHS. He was the Regulatory Policy Officer. This meant he looked over all new rules and guidelines. He made sure they were fair and helpful.

Returning to Government Service

After leaving government in 2007, Hargan worked at different law firms. In 2014, he helped the team for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. This team focused on healthcare plans.

After Donald Trump was elected president, Hargan joined his team. He helped with the changeover for HHS. On March 15, 2017, he was chosen to be the United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination on October 4, 2017. He then started his important work.

Personal Life

Eric Hargan lives in Virginia with his wife, Emily. They have two sons. Hargan also taught at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He taught classes about healthcare rules and how the government works. He also started his own company, Hargan Strategies.

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