Meyer nominates new DHSS secretary
Gov. Matt Meyer announced his nomination Sept. 23 for the position of secretary for the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, replacing the secretary who is leaving the position Oct. 1.
Christen Linke Young will need Delaware Senate approval for the position held by Josette Manning, who is leaving to serve as state director for Sen. Chris Coons.
Young previously 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, officials said, 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.
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 degree from Yale Law School and a bachelor of science degree from Stanford University. She has a daughter, 7, and a son, 3.
“I am honored by Gov. Meyer’s trust and excited about the opportunity to serve the people of Delaware,” Young said in a press release. “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.”
Delaware Healthcare Association CEO and President Brian Frazee said of Young in a statement, “Her experience and expertise in areas such as prescription drug pricing, insurance coverage expansion, strengthening population health and more will be invaluable as we work together to make the First State first in health.”
