Roger Severino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Severino
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Severino in 2024
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| Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights | |
| In office 2017–2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jocelyn Samuels |
| Succeeded by | Lisa J. Pino |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Roger Thomas Severino
1974/1975 (age 49–50) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Carrie Campbell
(m. 2004) |
| Education | University of Southern California (BBA) Carnegie Mellon University (MPP) Harvard University (JD) |
Roger Thomas Severino (born 1974 or 1975) is an American lawyer. He worked as the director of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. He held this important role from 2017 to 2021. Currently, he is a senior expert at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He also writes about health policy for Project 2025.
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Early Life and Education
Roger Severino grew up in Los Angeles. His parents were immigrants from Colombia. He went to the University of Southern California and earned a degree in business. Later, he studied at Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a master's degree in public policy. He then attended Harvard Law School and became a lawyer.
Career Highlights
From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Severino worked as a lawyer for the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. This division helps protect people's rights. He was also the leader and a lawyer for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. This group helps people who want to protect their freedom of religion.
In 2015, Mr. Severino joined The Heritage Foundation. This is a group that studies public policy. He was the director of a center there that focused on religion and civil society. He has also written articles for The Daily Signal and Public Discourse.
Leading the Office for Civil Rights
In March 2017, President Donald Trump chose Roger Severino to lead the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). This office is part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The OCR works to protect the civil rights of people in healthcare. Mr. Severino left this position on January 15, 2021.
During his time at the OCR, Mr. Severino made some changes to rules about discrimination. He removed some protections for people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This meant that some healthcare providers could refuse care based on these reasons.
In July 2020, President Trump nominated Mr. Severino for a position on the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States. He was officially appointed in January 2021. Soon after, he filed a lawsuit saying that the new administration asked him to resign or be fired.
Personal Life
Since 2004, Roger Severino has been married to Carrie Severino. She is also a lawyer and works as an activist. She leads a group called the Judicial Crisis Network.
