Search form

Group 4 Created with Sketch.
Back to HHS Watch

Cindy Huang

Office of Refugee Resettlement Director

Cindy Huang is the Vice President of Strategic Outreach at Refugees International and Director of the Refugee Advocacy Lab. Huang has spent most of her professional career in humanitarian and international policy organizations, including five years at the State Department under the Obama administration as a policy director for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations and senior advisor to the Counselor and Chief of Staff. Huang has signaled strong support for reproductive, LGBTQ, refugee, and human rights.

Cindy Huang’s Appointment Was Announced By HHS On March 2, 2021

The Department Of Health And Human Services Announced Cindy Huang As The Director Of The Office Of Refugee Resettlement. “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces Additional Biden-Harris Administration Staff Appointments…New appointees and their roles are listed below…Office of Refugee Resettlement…Cindy Huang, Director” [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3/2/21]

Huang Has Signaled Strong Support For Reproductive Rights Of Refugees

Huang Advocated For The Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights Of Rohingya Refugees

Huang Co-Authored A Report On “Improving Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights For Rohingya Refugees And Host Communities” And Recommended Donors Advocate For Comprehensive Care. “Removing Barriers and Closing Gaps: Improving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Rohingya Refugees and Host Communities…Donors should encourage the government of Bangladesh to address key policy barriers to effective SRHR implementation and adopt a more coordinated approach to reduce them. Specifically, donors should encourage: (1) access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs); (2) access to comprehensive post-rape care; (3) access to safe abortion and post-abortion care; (4) the ability to test for and treat HIV/AIDS in camps; (5) the ability for women to access family planning services without couple’s registration; and (6) the ability to build effective and secure health facilities. Many barriers to effective and comprehensive SRHR care affect refugees and host communities and addressing them would support progress toward Bangladesh’s existing health and family planning goals.” [Center for Global Development, 6/5/19]

Huang Has Signaled Strong Support For LGBTQ Rights

Huang Has Tweeted Or Liked Tweets In Support Of LGBTQ Rights And Communities

Huang Tweeted An Article Highlighting The Need To Include LGBTQ+ People In The COVID-19 Response.

[Cindy Huang Twitter, 6/24/20]

 

Huang Liked A Tweet In Support Of LGBTQ+ Practitioners In The National Security Field.

[Cindy Huang Twitter, accessed 3/4/21]

 

Huang Liked A Tweet In Support Of LGBTQ+ Refugees In Minnesota.

[Cindy Huang Twitter, accessed 3/4/21]

Huang Called For An Intersectional Approach To Gender Equality Within International Development Organizations

Huang Emphasized Intersectionality When Discussing Gender Equality Policies

Huang Co-Authored A Blog Post Titled “Practicing What We Preach: 5 Ideas to Promote Gender Equality Within And Among Development Organizations” And Emphasized An Intersectional Approach To Diversity And Inclusion. “As a starting point, we offer ideas focused on promoting gender equality, while recognizing that sexism is not the only challenge we must face. As Angela Bruce-Raeburn underscores, racism is a core issue for development and humanitarian aid and is inseparable from sexism: ‘Abuse, bad behavior, exploitation, and sexual misconduct are the result of a system that is owned and managed by white men who have no need to be accountable.’ Real progress and transformation will require commitments that take an intersectional approach to addressing power relations inherent in class, sex, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and health status, both in the workplace and in the places development organizations operate.” [Center for Global Development, 3/8/18]

Huang Affirmed LGBTQ Rights By Including Gender Identity And Sexual Orientation In Her Intersectional Approach To Diversity And Inclusion. “Real progress and transformation will require commitments that take an intersectional approach to addressing power relations inherent in class, sex, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and health status, both in the workplace and in the places development organizations operate.” [Center for Global Development, 3/8/18]

Huang Offered Five Ideas To Promote Gender Equality At International Development Organizations, Including A 50/50 Hiring Target And Enhanced Funding Criteria. “1. Commit to 50/50 targets...Committing to diversity and equality starts with the hiring pipeline. Hiring, investing in, and retaining diverse talent up and down the management chain requires a concrete commitment to achieve parity…2. Consider progress on gender equality as criterion for funding decisions…By considering progress towards targets for gender equity and inclusion as part of investment criteria, funders can push development organizations to adopt policies and practices that promote equality…3. Encourage and equip staff to check their implicit biases…4. Establish an ombudsperson and a community for them…5. Launch a peer review process” [Center for Global Development, 3/8/18]

Huang Has Supported The Human Rights Of Refugees And Migrants By Criticizing Harmful Immigration Policies

Huang Criticized President Trump’s Executive Orders On Immigration For Harming Refugees And The United States’ National Interest

Huang Tweeted Her Support Of A Federal Court Ruling Against Trump’s Executive Order That Allowed States And Localities To Veto Refugee Resettlement Programs.



[Cindy Huang Twitter, 1/15/20]

Huang Co-Authored A Blog Post Titled “Executive Orders Affecting Refugees Will Only Harm the US National Interest” To Criticize Trump’s Executive Orders On Immigration. “Among the wave of executive orders being developed by the Trump administration, so far two specifically target US commitments to refugees. They are consistent with Trump’s campaign promises to tighten borders and disengage from the world. And, if signed, they would result in serious harm to vulnerable people and alienate allies the United States needs to fight violent extremism and protect American interests…National security vetting for individuals seeking a home in the United States is critical. However, these policy proposals fail to recognize the broader costs of these measures—both to refugees and US national security—and do not reflect an understanding of evidence and past experience.” [Center for Global Development, 1/27/17]

Huang Called On Congress To Protect Refugee Resettlement Programs And Criticized Trump’s Withdrawal From Global Leadership. “It may take congressional action to prevent the United States from surrendering moral leadership on protecting the world’s most vulnerable. Just as bipartisan legislation has recently been introduced to protect undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, we encourage Congress to act to protect our resettlement program and assistance to refugees. Building on the support of the private sector and citizen groups, Congress could also push for measures that increase the engagement of private and nongovernmental actors, including through private sponsorship for refugees similar to Canada’s model and enabling companies to admit more refugees through work channels. Historically, the United States has supported refugees at home and around the world to advance both its values and national security. These new policies betray America’s founding values and principles, and their overall impact—as part of a broader and profound withdrawal from global leadership—will not protect our country but only put us at greater risk.” [Center for Global Development, 1/27/17]

See More