Governor Matt Meyer Nominates Christen Linke Young as DHSS Secretary

WILMINGTON -Governor Matt Meyer today announced the nomination of Christen Linke Young to serve as the next Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). Young, a nationally recognized health policy leader with more than 15 years of experience in state and federal government, will succeed Secretary Josette Manning, who will depart on October 1 to become State Director for U.S. Senator Chris Coons.

"Delaware is facing unprecedented healthcare challenges from workforce shortages to affordability and accessibility," said Governor Matt Meyer. "Christen Linke Young is an accomplished leader who has spent her career in state and federal governments expanding access to care, lowering costs, and strengthening health and social service systems. I am grateful for Secretary Manning's dedicated service to Delaware, and I am confident Christen will continue that legacy of excellence."

Young has previously served as Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Deputy Assistant to the President for Health and Veterans, where she led the Administration's health policy team. In that role, she oversaw implementation of the historic drug pricing provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, helped drive record-high Affordable Care Act enrollment, and coordinated national strategies to address the overdose epidemic, mental health, and maternal health crises.

"I am honored by Governor Meyer's trust and excited about the opportunity to serve the people of Delaware," said Christen Linke Young. "At a time of great challenges and opportunities, I look forward to working with the Governor, the General Assembly, and the team at DHSS to deliver high-quality health and social services to every Delawarean."

Young's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Delaware State Senate.

ABOUT THE NOMINEE

Christen Linke Young is a nationally recognized health policy leader with more than 15 years of experience in federal and state government. She has served as Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and Deputy Assistant to the President for Health and Veterans from 2021 to 2025. In that role, she led the Administration's health policy team as a senior White House staff member, overseeing implementation of the prescription drug pricing provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, efforts to achieve the lowest uninsured rate in U.S. history, and national initiatives addressing crises in maternal health, mental health, and overdoses.

Before her White House service, Young was Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, leading initiatives in Medicaid, behavioral health, public health, and social services programs.

She also held senior roles at the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Obama White House. In addition, she has served as a Fellow at the Brookings Institution, producing nationally recognized research on health coverage, pricing, and outcomes.

Young holds a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University. She is the proud mom to a seven-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son.

For any questions or to schedule a one-on-one interview with Governor Meyer, please email [email protected].