US Department of Health and Human Services: where to mail a FOIA request
To send a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to US Department of Health and Human Services, mail it to US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary FOIA Office, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 729H, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201. HHS's Office of the Secretary is the department-level FOIA office for cross-cutting health-policy records; operating divisions like the FDA, CDC, and NIH each run their own separate FOIA office for records specific to that agency. Include a clear description of the records you want, any identifying details, and a return address, and confirm the office on the source below before anything time-sensitive.
US Department of Health and Human Services — FOIA request address
US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Secretary FOIA Office Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 729H 200 Independence Avenue SW Washington DC 20201
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests only. Regular correspondence, complaints, or media inquiries should go to US Department of Health and Human Services's general contact address instead.
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US Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of the Secretary FOIA Office200 Independence Avenue SWWashington, DC 20201
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Key facts
- This is US Department of Health and Human Services's published FOIA correspondence address — a different mailbox from its general correspondence address.
- Requests are made under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Statutory response window: 20 business days from receipt, extendable for large or complex requests.
- FOIA itself has no filing fee, though an agency can bill for search and duplication time beyond the first free hours/pages — most individual record requests fall under that free threshold.
- If refused or ignored, you can appeal to the agency's FOIA appeals office, then the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) or federal court.
- PostPal prints your request and mails it for you — no printer, envelope, stamps, or post office trip.
How to send your letter
- 1
Write your request
State clearly that this is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and describe the records you want as specifically as you can — dates, names, file or reference numbers, and the office or program area, if you know them. Vague requests take longer to process.
- 2
Include what they need to identify you
If you're requesting your own file, include your full name and any identifying number the institution uses (case, claim, or file number) so they can locate the right record. FOIA itself has no filing fee, though an agency can bill for search and duplication time beyond the first free hours/pages — most individual record requests fall under that free threshold.
- 3
Address it to the request office
First line: US Department of Health and Human Services. Then: Office of the Secretary FOIA Office. Then: Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 729H. Then the street: 200 Independence Avenue SW. Then the final line: Washington DC 20201.
- 4
Send it with PostPal
Write or upload your request to PostPal with the address above prefilled. We print it, add your return address, and mail it for you — no printer, envelope, stamps, or trip to the post office.
Common questions
What is the US Department of Health and Human Services FOIA mailing address?
US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary FOIA Office, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 729H, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201. This is the office's published FOIA correspondence address — confirm it on the source below before anything time-sensitive, since request offices occasionally relocate.
What records can I request from HHS under FOIA?
HHS's Office of the Secretary is the department-level FOIA office for cross-cutting health-policy records; operating divisions like the FDA, CDC, and NIH each run their own separate FOIA office for records specific to that agency. Requests are made under the Freedom of Information Act.
How long does HHS have to respond?
The statutory response window is 20 business days from when the request is received, though it can be extended for large or complex requests — the office is required to notify you if that happens.
Does a FOIA request cost anything?
FOIA itself has no filing fee, though an agency can bill for search and duplication time beyond the first free hours/pages — most individual record requests fall under that free threshold.
What if my request is refused or I don't get a response?
You can appeal to the agency's FOIA appeals office, then the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) or federal court. Keep a copy of your original request and the date you sent it — you'll need both for an appeal.
How do I mail a FOIA request without a printer?
Write or upload your request to PostPal with the address prefilled. We print it, add your return address, and mail it for you — no printer, stamps, or post office trip needed.
Sources
Addresses verified September 2026 against official sources. Always confirm on the official site before time-sensitive filings.