Which department oversees the FDA?

The correct choice is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) because it is the primary federal agency responsible for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, operates under the HHS and is tasked with regulating food safety, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other health-related products. This relationship allows the FDA to align its public health objectives with the broader goals of the department, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.

Other departments, while significant in their own right, do not have direct oversight of the FDA. For instance, the Department of Defense mainly deals with military and defense matters, while the Department of Justice focuses on legal affairs and law enforcement. The Department of Agriculture primarily oversees issues related to farming, forestry, and food; although it works closely with the FDA on matters concerning food safety, it does not have administrative authority over the FDA.