HHS reverses a Biden-era reorganization of top tech officials - The Daily Scoop Podcast

The Daily Scoop Podcast – April 1, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast explores pivotal leadership and structural changes at two major federal agencies: the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Host Billy Mitchell details HHS's reversal of a high-profile Biden-era tech leadership reorganization, alongside the appointment of a new CIO at the FCC. The analysis spotlights how these changes reflect broader shifts in federal IT priorities, policy implementation, and cybersecurity posture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. HHS Reverses Biden-Era Tech Leadership Reorganization

[00:30]

Reorganization Reversal:
- HHS announced that its Chief AI Officer, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Data Officer are returning to the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO).
- This undoes a 2024 Biden administration reorganization, which had shifted these posts to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP ONC).
Operational Impact:
- The reversal aims to reinforce OCIO’s statutory responsibility over enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and data operations.
- It frees the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to focus on health IT policy, standards, and certification.
Title and Program Realignment:
- The dual ASTP ONC title is ended; it reverts back to “ONC.”
- The 405D Program—coordinating health sector cybersecurity—is housed within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
Leadership Rationale:
- HHS CIO and Acting Chief AI Officer Clark Minor emphasizes that repositioning these roles under the OCIO:
  
  "Allows the department to move faster on shared platforms to protect its systems more effectively and support ONC and the operating divisions with the technology capabilities they need to innovate for patients." — Clark Minor [01:53]
Historical Context:
- The 2024 Biden-era shift had aimed to clarify responsibilities and consolidate tech leadership, including the reinstitution of the CTO role after its absence.
- This move reflects a trend towards re-centralization and operational focus.

2. FCC Appoints New Chief Information Officer

[02:50]

New CIO Named:
- Farhan Khan, formerly FDA’s Chief Digital Officer, has been named FCC CIO.
- Succeeds Allen Hill, who retired in October 2025; Deputy CIO Don Tweedy had been serving as Acting CIO.
Professional Background:
- Oversaw FDA’s digital transformation, managed a $200 million budget, and led more than 400 staff.
- Previous federal roles included DOJ, DOT, FDIC, and the US Army in various IT/infrastructure leadership positions.
- Holds a master’s in Information Systems from George Washington University.
Role Expectations:
- As FCC CIO, Khan is tasked with:
  - Overseeing the agency’s technical priorities
  - Leading modernization efforts
  - Securing agency data
- The appointment is seen as a move to strengthen the FCC’s modernization push and cybersecurity posture.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On HHS’s Objective:

"[The move] allows the department to move faster on shared platforms to protect its systems more effectively and support ONC and the operating divisions with the technology capabilities they need to innovate for patients."
— Clark Minor, HHS CIO and Acting Chief AI Officer [01:53]
FCC CIO Announcement:

"Farhan Khan, who left the FDA for a private sector role in August 2025, takes over as the FCC's chief information officer following the retirement of Allen Hill last October."
— Billy Mitchell [02:58]

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:01 – 00:30: Introduction and episode preview
00:30 – 02:50: HHS organizational restructuring and leadership changes
02:50 – 03:45: FCC CIO appointment and background
03:45: Transition to outro

Summary Takeaways

HHS’s leadership shake-up marks a significant shift in tech governance, emphasizing operational authority and cybersecurity readiness.
FCC’s appointment of Farhan Khan highlights the agency’s commitment to experienced digital leadership and modernization.
The reported changes signal evolving priorities for federal technology management, workforce consolidation, and policy execution.

For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, visit FedScoop.com.

Transcript

A (0:01)

Today on the Daily Scoop Podcast from the Scoop News Group. The Department of Health and Human Services reverses a Biden era reorganization of top tech officials and the FCC has a new CIO. It's Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And now let's dive into the day's top headlines. The Department of Health and Human Services is reshuffling its top officials for data, artificial intelligence and technology back under its chief information officer, undoing a 2024 reorganization of those roles under the Biden administration. In a Tuesday announcement, HHS said the department's chief AI Officer, chief technology Officer and Chief data officer would move from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, Office of the National Coordinat for Health it, known as ASTP onc, back to the Office of the Chief Information Officer. The department is also ending the dual title of ASTP ONC and reverting it back to just onc, according to the press release. The reversal is aimed at reinforcing OCIO's statutory responsibility for enterprise IT cybersecurity and data operations. The move, the department said, also enables ONC to focus on its mission of health IT policy, standards and certification. HHS Chief Information Officer and Acting Chief AI Officer Clark Minor said in a statement included in the release that the move allows the department to move faster on shared platforms to protect its systems more effectively and support ONC and the operating divisions with the technology capabilities they need to innovate for patients. The Biden Era reorganization was first announced in July of 2024 and generally moved functions away from the OCIO with the goal of clarifying and consolidating those responsibilities in addition to rehousing top tech officials. The move reinstituted the role of CTO after several years of absence from the department's org chart and relocated a department program focused on coordinating health sector and government cybersecurity, known as the 405D program, to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. Now, in other news, the Federal Communications Commission has tapped the Food and Drug Administration's former chief digital officer as its new IT chief, the independent agency announced on Monday. Farhan Khan, who left the FDA for a private sector role in August 2025, takes over as the FCC's chief information officer following the retirement of Allen Hill last October. Deputy CIO Don Tweedy had been serving in the role in an acting capacity since then at the fda, Khan oversaw digital transformation projects for the agency, managing a 200 million dollar budget and team of more than 400 staffers, according to the FCC's press release. Khan began his federal career as a team lead with the Department of Justice in 2009. He later served as the Department of Transportation's Director of Infrastructure, the FDA's CTO, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's IT infrastructure operations chief, and the US Army's Director of Architecture and Integration for the Senior Executive Service. As the FCC's CIO, Khan, who holds a master's degree from George Washington in Information systems, will be charged with overseeing the agency's overarching technical priorities, leading modernization efforts and securing data for more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com