WILMINGTON — Governor Matt Meyer today congratulated Christen Linke Young on her confirmation by the Delaware State Senate as Secretary of theDelaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). Following her confirmation vote, Young was formally sworn in during a ceremony at Legislative Hall in Dover.
Young, a nationally recognized health policy leader with over 15 years of experience in federal and state government, succeeds Secretary Josette Manning, who departed earlier this month to serve as the State Director for U.S. Senator Chris Coons.
“Christen Linke Young brings unmatched expertise and a deep commitment to making health and social services work better for every Delaware family,” Governor Matt Meyer said. “At a time when our state faces real challenges in workforce, behavioral health, and affordability, she will chart a path toward a stronger, healthier, and more equitable Delaware.”
As Secretary, Young will oversee one of Delaware’s largest and most complex state agencies, leading efforts to strengthen public health, expand access to care, and modernize service delivery across the state.
“It’s an incredible honor to be confirmed by the Senate and to begin this work on behalf of the people of Delaware,” Secretary Christen Linke Young said. “Governor Meyer and his team have built a foundation focused on putting people at the center of our work, and I’m eager to continue that progress. Together with the dedicated DHSS staff, we’ll focus on improving health outcomes, supporting our workforce, and making sure every Delawarean can live with dignity and opportunity.”
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 govcomm@delaware.gov.