Michael Caputo, the top spokesperson at HHS, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer, The Buffalo News first reported.
Mr. Caputo was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a metastatic head and neck cancer, after having surgery at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., last week.
HHS also announced last week Mr. Caputo was taking a 60-day leave of absence from his role "to focus on his health and the well-being of his family."
At the time, no further details about his health condition were released.
His temporary leave of absence came days after he posted a Facebook Live video criticizing scientists at the CDC for pushing "rotten science" and claiming they were putting political beliefs before science. He later apologized for the video, according to CNN.