at the national level, a simple national board of health functioned from 1879-1883, but it was not until 1939 that another federal agency that operated to manage public health on a national level was established, going from a federal agency called the federal security agency that had health functions such as the united states public health service (phs), and the united states food and drug administration (fda). in 1953, that agency was reorganized and its health functions were elevated to a cabinet-level position to establish the united states department of health, education and welfare (hew), which was renamed in 1980 to become the current and modern united states department of health and human services (hhs).